NEAL ARDLEY has ruled defender Levi Andoh out for the remainder of York City’s season.

A fractured back injury means that Andoh hasn’t featured for York since August’s 1-1 draw with Aldershot Town, with the defender completing 90 minutes in all four of City’s opening four matches.

After signing in the Summer from Hereford, Andoh is yet to gain any minutes under Ardley due to his injury, which flared up in December and forced the 23-year-old to restart his rehabilitation programme in what has been a frustrating period for the Dutchman.

“It’s a long one, we tried to get him back before Christmas but it flared up again and hasn’t healed properly,” Ardley told the Press.

“We had to take a step back again, he’s on a special programme and whether Levi can get himself back and fit before the end of the season with the injury he’s had, is anybody’s guess.

“Unfortunately since I’ve arrived he first fractured his back, and it looks to be a season-long injury.”

Ardley did confirm that there were no fresh new injury concerns for York, and provided another positive update on Dan Batty, who is now back in contention after impressing Ardley in contact training.

“There’s no major real injuries on top of what we’ve had," Ardley confirmed.

“Dan Batty has two weeks now, this week he’s been fully training in contact and he’s produced some really good numbers, so he’s now potentially in contention.

“If anything, we’ve come out of this week stronger.

“If you would have asked me around the Christmas period going into January, I was expecting him back in mid-February.

“To have him back with a chance of being involved, we are ten days to two weeks ahead of that, which is a positive.”