DAVID McGURK and Lanre Oyebanjo are back in contention for the visit of Ebbsfleet United tomorrow in the Blue Square Bet Premier – but York City boss Gary Mills is no nearer to knowing when star striker Jason Walker will return to the fray.

The Minstermen manager had hoped his 15-goal leading scorer would have recovered from the torn groin which has seen him out of action since the 3-0 FA Trophy first round replay win at Solihull in mid-December, but has reported the former Luton and Barrow forward continues to struggle on the treatment table.

“The question was asked a couple of weeks ago and I said two weeks,” said Mills when asked about Walker’s progress. “It’s dragging on and he’s not got back as quick as we would like. My answer again, two weeks on, is another two weeks.

“The longer it goes on, obviously fitness and sharpness wise and coming straight back into the side or into the frame, it’s going to be an issue. We have got to try to get him back as quickly as we can – organise a couple of games for him to play in and get that match fitness.”

Mills continued: “It’s frustrating because originally we thought it would be three weeks and that has dragged on into whatever it has now been. Ebbsfleet was the game where I was being told by the physio a couple of weeks ago that he should be in contention and we are still at the same situation.

“Dave and Lanre are back training now, so the only one who is missing is Jason. They are fit. They have trained yesterday and will train today. There’s competition for places.”

Mills added he is expecting a tough encounter against Ebbsfleet, who are hunting their third win in a week following victory in the FA Trophy against Chester and three league points at Hayes & Yeading on Tuesday.

With the two teams set to meet in the Trophy at Bootham Crescent on February 4, the City boss is not discounting the psychological advantage beating Fleet tomorrow could have.

But he insisted the priority is three points.

Mills said: “The first game of the season, down there, we were 1-0 down and we came back to win 2-1. They are always a tough side.

“They have picked up of late – another win in the week to put them in the middle of the table, so it’s a tough game.

“But it’s about us, about the way we feel and we are feeling positive.”

“At 5pm, I will possibly say, when we’ve beaten them, that this is the case,” he added on the advantage a win could mean for the Trophy.

“Certainly, I think if we get the result we want on Saturday and put in a good performance then it’s positive for us.

“They are going to come back thinking ‘We’ve got to go back to York. They are a good side, they’ve beaten us. We have got to do well to go and beat them’. If they get a result, either way, then it is going to give them a lift.

“The most important thing is that it’s one game. It’s 90 minutes of league football. The important thing to us is that we get three points.”

Meanwhile, ticket prices have been confirmed for the Ebbsfleet Trophy tie, which will be held on Saturday, February 4.

Adult admission is £12, concessions £6, and under-5s go free.

There will be no pre-sale of tickets before the game.