BILLY McEwan will invite former Azerbaijan Under-21 international goalkeeper Farjan Afandiyev back for pre-season training after he played for the reserves as a trialist last night.

City completed their Pontin's League programme with a 5-1 victory over Halifax Town after an Adam Arthur hat-trick and Afandiyev, who has had brief spells at Hinckley United and Nuneaton Borough, enjoyed a confident 90 minutes.

Afandiyev, 25, was recommended to McEwan by the same scout that brought Peter Schmeichel to Manchester United's attention and the City boss said: "He did not have too much to do but did what he had to do well and looked quite confident. He's over six feet tall and the right age at 25 so we will have a chat with him and would like to invite him back over the summer."

Paul Robinson and Nathan Kamara joined Arthur on the scoresheet.

But the teenage striker's treble will not bring him into contention for tomorrow's final Conference match against Farnborough at KitKat Crescent.

McEwan said: "He won be playing tomorrow but he finished all his goals well and it just confirms why we need a reserve team to bring youngsters like Adam on."

Teenage midfielder Ashley Wynn, released this week by Oldham Athletic, also played as a trialist and McEwan expressed an interest in taking another look at him in July.

Meanwhile, the City manager has pointed out that any City player under contract beyond this summer will only leave KitKat Crescent on the club's terms.

McEwan said after Tuesday night's 4-0 defeat at Canvey Island that even contracted players could be put on the transfer list this summer.

His comments are understood to have attracted interest from neighbours Scarborough in Andy Bishop and Darren Dunning.

The Seadogs are searching for a goalscorer and 11-goal Bishop might fit the bill while boss Nick Henry is understood to be an admirer of Scarborough-born Dunning, who could replace England National Game XI captain Scott Kerr -- a rumoured target for promoted Conference champions Barnet.

Both players, however, have deals with the Minstermen until 2006 and McEwan said: "We will listen to offers for any of our players because all of them have a price but I haven't had one telephone call about any of them. What I will say is that nobody will be leaving that is under contract unless it is the right thing for the club."

Updated: 10:09 Friday, April 22, 2005