YORK City boss Steve Watson is hoping to run the rule over some of the club’s talented youngsters during tonight’s North Riding Senior Cup semi-final at Scarborough Athletic.

Teenage right-back Nathan Dyer, who is yet to play a senior game under Watson despite making 10 first-team appearances earlier this season, is set to start at the Flamingo Land Stadium, having signed professional terms last week.

Youth-team hot-shot Ethan Henderson is also likely to feature, having hit back-to-back hat-tricks in under-19 victories over Gateshead (6-1) and Farsley Celtic (5-1) to take his season’s tally to 17.

Five senior professionals with first-team experience this term – Tom Bradbury, Alex Harris, Josh Law, Joe Tait and Jake Wright – are expected to kick off the last-four contest too, along with reserve keeper Ryan Whitley.

But Jon Parkin will not play any part on the Seadogs’ 3G pitch due to concerns over a past knee injury, while Dan Parslow remains doubtful four weeks on from suffering concussion during the 2-1 home defeat to Hereford and David Mirfin is not expected to return to training until Thursday due to the facial wound he suffered that required 31 stitches.

Simon Heslop is also ruled out for the rest of the season following knee surgery and, on his selection plans, Watson reasoned: “We won’t risk playing anybody who is feeling anything, and a couple won’t play on the 3G pitch because of injuries they have had before, so it might be a chance to look at some of the younger players.

“I’ve not seen much of Nathan Dyer and young Ethan has been doing great with the youth team, so it would be good to have a look at him. In my mind, it’s a first-team squad game that I want to win because it’s another chance to keep our run going and I know it will be a tough game, but the league is obviously our priority and I won’t be putting that at risk.”

Watson admitted it was particularly disappointing that Parkin, who has only managed three first-team substitute outings since the former Gateshead boss’ arrival at Bootham Crescent, would not be available to face Evo-Stik League premier division promotion hopefuls Scarborough.

“It’s a shame that Jon won’t be able to play and it’s a shame that he couldn’t play more than ten minutes against Chesterfield in the practice game we had as well,” Watson lamented. “But the surface might be better suited to our younger players anyway.

“I’m not really a fan of 3G pitches. I think professional football should be played on grass every week, even though I understand why clubs have them because it’s a good revenue stream.”

This evening’s match kicks off at 7.45pm, with admission £8 for adults, £4 for concessions and free for under-11s.