YORK City boss Billy McEwan looks poised to offer trialist striker Jack Wilkinson a short-term contract at KitKat Crescent.

Wilkinson, 20, scored a goal in City's first pre-season friendly at Gainsborough Trinity but has been sidelined with a niggling injury since.

McEwan, however, has been impressed with the 5ft 8in forward from the day he reported for pre-season training with the Minstermen at the end of June.

Wilkinson netted twice in three starts for Hartlepool before being released by the Victoria Park club at the end of last season and, having included him in his first-team photograph, McEwan is ready to give him a chance to impress at Conference level.

The City boss said: "He's got a good attitude and has worked his socks off during the last six weeks. He's got a slight tear on his thigh that has been enough to keep him out but he's still here and we will have to see how he does in games."

Former Scarborough and Lincoln City centre-back Simon Weaver is also still at the club on a trial basis and should learn his fate shortly with James Dudgeon struggling to shrug off a knock sustained in Friday night's 3-1 victory at Frickley Athletic.

Midfielder Neal Bishop has resumed training after he missed that match with a lower leg problem and should be in contention for the start of City's new Conference campaign at home to Exeter on Saturday.

McEwan, meanwhile, will not be rushed into completing any transfer dealings before the weekend, saying: "I'm disappointed that I've got a smaller squad than I had at this stage last year and that I haven't been able to get in players that I thought I might get but I'm still waiting to hear from some and I'm not going to rush into anything.

"If more new players don't come in before Saturday, it won't be the end of the world. We can still bring them in after then."

Former City right-back Nathan Kamara has joined UniBond League outfit Bradford Park Avenue.

Kamara, who made two substitute appearances last season, turned down a six-month contract extension from City in May.