YORK City signings Josh Carson and Elliott Whitehouse are both “up to speed” and ready for first team action, reckons boss Nigel Worthington.

The pair met up with the squad at Wigginton Road yesterday – Carson for the first time since signing a deal until the end of the season following a loan spell at Bootham Crescent last term and Woodhouse on a month’s loan from Sheffield United.

Far from merely adding depth to Worthington’s squad as the Minstermen look to end a barren run without a win against Mansfield tomorrow, they could be thrown into the mix straight away.

“They are in and they are in good nick from a fitness point of view,” he said.

“They are both up to speed. They will go straight into the think tank as far as the squad is concerned.

“I am pleased to get Josh. He has got Championship experience. He’s a young international. He came in last year when things were tough and did a very good job until he got injured.

“So when there was an opportunity, when he was departing from Ipswich, I was soon on the phone to see what we could do.”

On Woodhouse, Worthington added: “I watched Elliott a few times and saw him in pre-season against ourselves. I spoke to Richard Cresswell about him.

“He is young, he has enthusiasm and a real desire and wants to do well and I think it adds more competition.”