YORK City forgotten man Alex Harris has re-emerged as a strong contender for a first XI recall, according to manager Steve Watson.

The 24-year-old Scotsman has only started one of Watson’s first seven fixtures in charge – the disappointing 2-1 home defeat to Hereford.

He also failed to kick off any of the last six matches Watson’s predecessor Sam Collins oversaw, but he is forcing himself back into the Minstermen reckoning following an eye-catching substitute cameo during Saturday’s 2-0 home win over Nuneaton.

Harris’s sixth assist of the season – only Jordan Burrow has claimed more this term in City’s squad – teed up fellow replacement Hamza Bencherif’s 78th-minute goal at the weekend and the former Hibernian attacker also stung Nuneaton keeper Cam Belford’s hands during the latter stages.

Having been used in the middle of the park previously by both Watson and Collins, Harris was given his chance on the right wing in the Minstermen’s 4-3-3 formation against Nuneaton.

It is a position the former Scottish Cup finalist believes suits him best and, while first XI slots are currently difficult to claim with ten players having started each of the team’s last three games that have all ended in victory, Watson now regards Harris as a different alternative to Wes York, who he replaced on the flank.

Extolling the former Scotland under-19 international’s merits, Watson said: “I had a chat with Alex and he let me know that a lot of his football has been played in wide positions.

“Most of his football for me has been played centrally, so I was keen to give him some time in a match setting in the position he likes to play, and I thought he was very good on the ball. I think he’s a very gifted player tactically and it suited him when the game opened up.

“He did really well and, while the team has not needed changing much during three wins on the spin, I’ve learnt that, when I need to shuffle the pack, he’s a good option and I certainly know he can do a different job to Wes out there. Wes is a little more direct and stretches teams with his running, whilst Alex is more of a dribbler, who plays one-twos and is tough to play against in that respect.”

With Bencherif also making an impact from the bench, Watson is still keen to use his squad to the full despite deciding on a settled side and revealed that Jake Wright, who was recalled to the matchday 16 after missing out completely the previous weekend at Kidderminster, retains strong claims for pitch time, especially if the team are in need of goals.

“I was about to put Jake on before the first goal went in (against Nuneaton), because I thought we needed to put on as many goal threats as possible,” Watson reasoned.

City’s North Riding Senior Cup semi-final at Scarborough Athletic’s Flamingo Land Stadium next Tuesday, meanwhile, will cost £8 for adults.

The tie kicks off at 7.45pm with concession admission £4 for under-16s, students, pensioners, armed forces servicemen and veterans.

Under-11s will be admitted for free with a paying adult.

City’s next home match with play-off contenders Altrincham a week on Saturday has also been designated a Junior League Day.

Under the initiative, junior players from local league clubs will be admitted free for the National League North contest.

The offer is open to all players aged 16 or under from teams in the York & Ryedale Mitchell Sports Football League, the City of York Girls Football League and the YMSV York Minor League.

Players must attend the game wearing their junior league club's shirt and every player must also be accompanied by a full paying adult or adult season ticket holder, with the offer restricted to one free child per full paying adult.

All players will be asked to register with members of staff from City’s Foundation department in the car park before kick-off, giving their name, team name and playing position.