Dan Batty in contention for first York City start since October

Batty has missed up to four months of first-team action after a lengthy injury, with the midfielder only returning to the substitutions bench in recent matches against Maidenhead United and Southend United on Saturday.

The 26-year-old picked up valuable minutes as a 95th minute substitute on Saturday, with Ardley confirming that the midfielder is now ‘fit and sharp enough to play’ against Dorking Wanderers on Tuesday night.

The City boss will make a final decision on Batty's comeback to the starting eleven depending on if he feels that Batty can influence the Dorking game, with Ardley making it clear that he is not holding the midfielder back from his return.

“He’s certainly in contention, I’m not holding back on Dany Batty now,” Ardley told the Press.

“He’s fit and sharp enough to play, but I’m trying to pick the right games, you’re not going to have someone who’s been out for two to three months and then chuck them into a Saturday to Tuesday.

“I’ve got to look at where Dan Batty’s strengths can be used, and if tomorrow I feel like it’s a game that that can happen, then that will come into my thinking.”

Ardley also provided a brief update on Olly Dyson, who was spotted wearing a protective boot in the 1-1 draw with Maidenhead nine days ago, with Ardley awaiting an update on the midfielder’s condition.

The City boss confirmed that depending on the severity of the injury, Dyson could see out the remainder of his loan spell with Vanarama National League outfit Scarborough Athletic, but would also be welcomed back into the frame for York.

“I’ll find out a little bit more today, but he was in that for precautionary measures.

“I’m sure he’ll back running on it, I don’t think that there was anything that was a break, he just needed it to settle down.

“Hopefully he’ll be back running and back in contention for whether if he’s finishing his loan or is back in the fold for us.”