NEW loan signing Chris Carruthers – who once tried to shackle Real Madrid’s Ronaldo while on international duty – has declared his intention to earn a permanent deal at York City.

Left-back Carruthers is hoping to make his Minstermen debut during this afternoon’s home game with Stevenage and is keen to make a big impression during his one-month stay.

The 26-year-old defender has become surplus to requirements under Chris Wilder at Blue Square Premier leaders Oxford United, making just one appearance for the Kassam Stadium outfit this season before being loaned out to Crawley Town, where he has spent the last four weeks.

But Carruthers now sees his spell at Bootham Crescent as the ideal opportunity to kickstart his career again.

He said: “I think I’ll be available on a free transfer from Oxford because the manager has other options there so we will probably be going our different ways. I’ve got no future there.

“It’s just one of those things that happens in football. I will try to play some games at York and see what happens.

“Hopefully, something will come out of it because I’d definitely be interested in a permanent move.

“York are a good club with a good manager and some quality players where everything is done professionally.”

Carruthers watched from the stands as City were undeservedly beaten 2-1 on the opening day at Oxford.

He was also on the receiving end of a comprehensive 2-0 defeat with Crawley during last month’s Bootham Crescent meeting between the two sides.

The former Northampton and Bristol Rovers full-back, therefore, had little hesitation when the opportunity arose to join the Minstermen rather than extend his stay in Sussex.

He said: “When Martin Foyle asked me if I wanted to come to York I grabbed the chance.

“I think there’s a strong side here and it will probably be an under-achievement if the club does not make the play-offs.

“I thought York dominated the game against Oxford and were very unfortunate with the two late goals.

“It was a good performance – they looked solid and well-organised.

“When I played here for Crawley, it was a very tough game.”

Reports from Oxford suggest his most natural position is left-wing back but Kettering-born Carruthers added that he is equally as comfortable in a 4-4-2 formation.

“I feel comfortable anywhere down the left side,” he said.

Should he play full-back for City, he is unlikely to ever face a sterner test of his defensive ability than when he was pitched against a future Manchester United and Real Madrid star for England Under-20s.

Carruthers won 14 caps at that level for his country, playing alongside the likes of Glen Johnson, Carlton Cole and Michael Chopra but it is one particular opponent that stands out.

He said: “I played against Cristiano Ronaldo at the Toulon tournament. He was very good even back then.

“I remember watching him against Japan the game before we played Portugal and he picked the ball up on the edge of his own box, went up the other end and scored.

“I did okay against him though.”

Recollected Carruthers: “He started on the right against us and then moved on to the left for the second half.

“I’m not saying that was to do with how I played against him but, as a team, we did well and only lost 1-0 with ten men.”