YORK City manager Gary Mills will not rule out playing right-back Lanre Oyebanjo in the centre of defence from the start for tomorrow night’s home game with Tamworth.

Oyebanjo partnered substitute Daniel Parslow at the heart of the back four for the last half-hour of Saturday’s 2-0 Blue Square Bet Premier win over Hayes & Yeading United after scoring his first goal for the Minstermen to break the deadlock at Bootham Crescent.

It was a makeshift back line borne from necessity with Chris Doig limping out of the action due to a groin problem in the second half, after a hamstring problem had seen fellow centre-half Ben Gibson replaced midway through the first period.

Should both players now be unavailable against Tamworth, they will join the suspended Chris Smith and crocked David McGurk on the sidelines, leaving Mills short on central-defensive options.

A recall for Jamal Fyfield could be one possibility, while leaving Oyebanjo alongside Parslow is another.

On that consideration, the City chief said: “Lanre slotted in at centre-half when Chris Doig went off and, with his pace, he got back and made some good interceptions for us at times. He played centre-half at Histon a lot and you need utility players, like Lanre, who are comfortable in a few positions.

“Lanre cannot read the game as well as Doigy, who makes everything look simple but his massive strength in the centre of defence is his pace. Even if somebody goes past him, he has the speed to recover and make a tackle.”

On Oyebanjo opening his account for the club, Mills added: “It took one bit of quality from Lanre to take the lead. I told him to get himself in the box so I will take credit for that but, having said that, it was a great finish from a good cross and I’m pleased for him.

“He’s been out of the side for a while but has come back and done well and it’s nice to have another name on the scoresheet rather than relying on the same ones.”

Seeing 16-goal top scorer Jason Walker net for the first time since October, however, with a stoppage-time penalty was equally pleasing for Mills, who said: “You can see his frustration but I gave him the shirt again because I believe in him and I know what he’s capable of.

“I brought him here and I am just as delighted as him that he’s hit the back of the net again having won the penalty as well. I decided to keep him on hoping that he would get a goal and he did.

“We’ve got so many late goals this season and you get that when you don’t give up, don’t stop believing and don’t lose faith in each other. We have responded from the defeat against Gateshead with two 1-0 wins and two clean sheets so I am delighted.”

Mills also hailed the performance of stand-in skipper Scott Kerr, who donned the armband in the absence of Smith. He said: “He wants success badly and has a never-say-die attitude. He’s immense for us and covered every blade of the pitch. You could even hear him shouting and encouraging players as he ran forward.”