SCUNTHORPE United have joined the growing legion of Clayton Donaldson admirers.

After previous scouting missions by Hibernian and Wolves, the League One high-fliers were the latest club to send a representative to KitKat Crescent as York City striker Donaldson bagged a brace in Saturday's 2-0 defeat of Halifax.

That double strike took Donaldson's goal tally to 17 for the season but City boss Billy McEwan has insisted that only a big offer from a big club would lure his prize asset away from the club during the January transfer window.

Donaldson recently turned down the offer of a new contract with the Minstermen.

His current deal expires at the end of this season when the 22-year-old striker, should he not put pen to paper, could leave for a fee fixed by a tribunal.

McEwan questioned Donaldson's commitment to the club after the 2-1 FA Trophy exit at Morecambe but was gushing in his praise for the ex-Hull attacker following his contribution against Halifax and reiterated his desire to ward off any New Year bids deemed unworthy of his services.

The City boss said: "We had been waiting for that performance from Clayton for three weeks. He was outstanding and, when he's in that type of form, not many people can handle him in this league.

"He's still got a lot to learn to develop and mature and that will come if he keeps listening, but that will not stop people coming to watch him because he's scoring goals.

"From my point of view, I don't bring players here to sell them. I bring them here to improve the standard and profile of the club.

"I've spoken to the board and they feel the same but, if somebody comes in and makes a big offer from a big club, we would not stand in his way. It would be frustrating because of the amount of effort you put into these players only to lose them, but that's football."

City will be monitoring Jason Goodliffe's fitness ahead of Friday night's home match with Woking after he was replaced by James Dudgeon because of a second-half thigh injury against Halifax.