YORK City are likely to go with a youthful side at Ossett United tonight (7pm), manager Steve Watson has said, with an eye to Notts County later in the week.

Ossett play in Northern Premier League east division, the same as local sides Tadcaster Albion and Pickering Town, and present City with their penultimate game of pre-season.

The benefits of playing a less experienced side will be twofold - the younger lads and trialists will get some valuable game time, while giving others a chance to rest up for Saturday.

Centre-backs Sean Newton and Josh King were both rested for last Tuesday's game against Middlesbrough with injuries, as was striker Jason Gilchrist. Left-back Scott Barrow went off holding his right leg against Boro.

And Watson is keen to give each every chance to be at full fitness for the trip to Meadow Lane, City's last game of pre-season. Against a National League outfit at a similar stage of preparations to York, it will surely be the best indicator yet of what City can expect from next season.

"Looking at the amount of injuries we've picked up, the Ossett game will be used for the younger players to get 90 minutes into them - your Jack Degruchys, your Luke Joneses," Watson explained.

"The lads who have just come in, a couple of the trialists, we'll get another 90 minutes into them.

"I think that's the sensible thing to do - to not risk any more and give the lads a chance to recover. I desperately want a full bill of health for Notts County."

On his early assessment of Barrow's injury, Watson said: "I'm a bit concerned for him, to be honest. There was no one around him, just struck a ball and felt something go in his Achilles.

"It's a concern for us, and certainly for him."