YORK City's new signing Sam Fielding has given manager Steve Watson "food for thought".

Normally deployed as a holding midfielder, the 22-year-old was put in at centre-back alongside Matty Brown for last week's 2-1 pre-season win over Middlesbrough.

Belying his age and preferred playing position, the former York youngster was a composed presence against the Championship visitors, his distribution long-range passing and distribution particularly impressive.

Fielding stepped into the back line with Josh King and Sean Newton both out. He has featured in every pre-season friendly so far and was signed up on Sunday alongside fellow trialist Harrison Hopper.

"We had (Fielding) at the end of last season and he played a couple of games for us against Leeds Under-23s, when Jack Harrison played," Watson revealed.

"I think he looked really comfortable at centre-half (against Boro). He's a really good passer of the ball and I think it suited him better, which is food for thought."