RYAN WHITLEY has joined Northern Premier League leaders South Shields on a one-month loan.

The 20-year-old’s opportunities at York City have been limited this season, with first-choice shot-stopper Pete Jameson continuing in fantastic form.

Should the pattern continue, manager Steve Watson warned, the promising Whitley, pictured, would see little game time if he did not go out on loan.

And Watson believes the north/west division Mariners is an ideal destination.

“They’re leading their league and I’m good friends with Graham (Fenton, manager),” he said.

“I want him to go to a club where I know he’ll be looked after and the training will be good.

“It’s a good standard.

“They’ve got a few games in hand, I think they’ll all end up being this month, so he might end up playing six or seven games.

“It’s a little bit of a risk but the benefits of it really outweigh the risks.

“If things keep going the way they’re going, he’s going to end up with very few competitive games if he doesn’t go out.

“We have a call-back on him so he’ll be ours again.”