STEVE WATSON has reiterated the benefits for both player and club as he issued an update on York City's loan players.

Wes York, Tom Allan and Kyle McFarlane, pictured, are reported to be enjoying getting game time, which is also set to help City on their returns, believes Watson.

York and Allan are due to return from Brackley Town and Farsley Celtic, respectively, in January. McFarlane was slated to come back to Bootham Crescent sooner, with a busy Christmas on the horizon.

For the 22-year-old striker McFarlane, game time is of particular importance as a recovers from a knee injury sustained last season.

Watson said: "Kyle's gone out to play football because we were in a position with Kyle where he's come back from a long injury. We knew of his potential but you want to see him in this league, and the way games were going before we loaned Kyle out, it was very difficult for him to get in the team.

"We'll address it all in January and have a look at it all then but it can only be good for them."

McFarlane seems to have made a good impression at Stratford Town since his arrival at the start of November. He has made two starts and one substitute appearance, scoring two goals in that time.

York has made six appearances for Brackley - two off the bench - and found the net once since his current spell away began in mid-October. Allan's stint has run from around the same time, and has comprised six starts. During his first, against Alfreton Town, he scored once and notched two assists.

"They're enjoying it," Watson said on the players' time away.

"What they want to do is play games, and by playing games, it benefits us.

"They'll come back match-fit. When you've got a club that doesn't have a reserve team as such, these lads who aren't playing regularly - and it doesn't matter how many times you train or do a five-a-side, possession or a phase-of-play type training drill - they don't get that match fitness.

"Wes has gone away to do that, and Tom's probably played the most out of everybody."