MICHAEL MORTON is expecting striker Shaq Forde to be back available for York City’s clash with Yeovil Town this Saturday (3pm).

Forde was the first signing under former manager David Webb, and has proven to be a smart acquisition when joining on-loan from Watford until the end-of-the-season.

But after struggling with a tight hamstring, Forde is back in training, alongside forward Luke James who was struggling with an illness.

“Shaq has just had a full training session today alongside Jamo [Luke James] who is back in as well.” Morton confirmed.

“There’s a few stiff legs from the other night but that’s what we expected so near enough we have had nearly had everyone on the pitch today apart from the longer-term injuries.

Morton is also keen to give opportunities to players who have been working hard and remaning patitent, such as Alex Hurst and Maziar Kouhyar, who is returning from a long-term abductor injury.

“I’ve had a chat with Hursty and I really like what he’s about.” Morton admitted.

“I know sometimes he can play as a forward and he was close not to start the other night, but I felt that just because of their physicality we needed to have Manny [Duku] and Lenny [Lenell John-Lewis] playing, not just going forward but defensively.

“I think if it was anyone else he would have been in and starting up there, because he has earned the right.

“On the other side, we all know that Hursty’s natural position is a winger and we’re not playing with wingers at this moment in time, so what he’s got to do is just stay patient because there will be times where we have to play with three up top and he’ll be in contention when we do that along with Maz [Maziar Kouhyar].

“We do map out our substitutions, like I said the other day we were maybe five, ten minutes too slow on the one we wanted to do but it was the momentum in the game.

“Looking at it a couple of weeks ago, if we’re staying in the same shape then you change your wing-backs to wingers.

“A bit more aggressive, which teams do. If not then we have to change personnel with potentially a four up or a two up. Again that just depends on what they’re playing and what the situation in the game is.

“And we’ve just been unfortunate in terms of how the games have gone because we’ve not had that opportunity to change it that quickly, and obviously the game the other night we didn’t want to change it too early because I thought everybody was putting an eight out of ten shift in.”

Mitch Hancox is also being reinstated into the squad, after serving a two-match suspension when accumulating ten yellow cards throughout the season, and Morton remains pleased he has players that aren’t afraid of a tackle.

“He’s been brilliant, he gives absolutely everything for the club.

“He gives everything, he’s infectious in the team and it’s good that we’ve got him and Paddy [Patrick McLaughlin] as options with left-footers, I always like a left-footer in there.

“It just gives you different dynamics in terms of how you want to play.

“But Mitchell will be in around it this weekend and we’ll see how training goes tomorrow to see if he starts or is on the bench.

“Because they are so eager and do well for the club, they want to dive in. I think that has been one of our things since coming into the club to just be a little bit more patient in one-on-one defending.

“But obviously with everything going on it is hard, you get the red mist and you just want to win the ball.

“But I’d rather have players like that that are committed and want to go win the ball than teams that haven’t got the heart and not really getting stuck in.”