YORK City assistant manager Micky Cummins is backing striker Macaulay Langstaff to push for a starting place.

The 23-year-old returned last week from a month's loan at National League North strugglers Blyth Spartans, where he made three starts but had no goal returns.

Langstaff, pictured, has had limited game time for York, his one league goal from 21 outings coming in the New Year's Day win over Bradford Park Avenue.

In just three of those appearances has he been on from the start, but Cummins says this could change.

"I think for Macaulay, it was a case of keeping him sharp," Cummins said of his loan. "We don't have a reserve league and he can't play in the youth team.

"At this point of the season, we didn't want to create too many friendlies just to get him minutes so it was an opportunity for him to go and play games. He played a fair bit and did reasonably well.

"He's a threat. We can use him as an attacking option off the bench. He trains fantastically well all the time and he'll push the lads for a starting place in the team."