YORK CITY boss Steve Watson has said that defender Tom Allan is back in his plans after returning to the club from his loan spell.

Allan spent a month at fellow National League North side Farsley Celtic, making seven appearances for the club and helping the Leeds side to sixth place in the table.

The 24-year-old was a regular for York throughout pre-season, but found himself behind the first choice back three of Steve McNulty, Joe Tait and Sean Newton who started the league campaign.

Now though, with captain McNulty sidelined and Watson expected to make changes for this weekend's trip to Irlam in the second qualifying round of the Emirates FA Cup.

"Tom's back in with us now after a successful loan spell," said Watson.

"That was always the plan, to get Tom games that I couldn't guarantee him here at York.

"It's different for Josh and Harry because they're young lads because they've just made this step up.

"But, Tom does need to be playing regularly and when our back three started the way that they did, I couldn't guarantee him that.

"He wants to play football and it was a sensible move for him. He comes back into a different scenario with McNulty still not fit and up to speed.

"Tom comes back into the equation now. "

As for tomorrow's trip to Irlam, Watson is more familiar than most about the little-known the ninth tier opposition.

The manager said: "I lived in Manchester for a long time, so I know as much about Irlam now, from speaking to people from around that area and getting reports from them, as I would do any other team that I've not come across before - King's Lynn for instance. I've never faced them before."