GRIMSBY Town striker Giovanni Carchedi will have his firepower potential assessed by York City in the coming weeks.

The 21-year-old will train and play with the reserves during an indefinite trial as part of caretaker manager Viv Busby's drive to recruit fresh blood in his bid to avoid relegation.

Carchedi signed for the Mariners after serving his apprenticeship at Nottingham Forest but has failed to break into the Blundell Park first team after a career-threatening knee injury that kept him sidelined for a year.

The diminutive forward damaged medial and cruciate ligaments and his kneecap in a reserve game against Darlington but scored a penalty on his comeback against the same opposition for Grimsby's second string in November.

Carchedi also has painful memories of one City encounter, receiving a smack in the mouth during a reserve clash against the Minstermen, which required stitches and saw him stretchered off.

He was given a six-month contract in the summer but is now a free agent and Busby is happy to run his eye over him on a trial basis.

Said Busby: "He's a front guy who is sharp and scores goals on a regular basis, and he played against our reserves a few weeks ago."

It is thought that Carchedi will not be eligible to play in City's North Riding Senior Cup tie against Middlesbrough at Billingham on Monday but should face Darlington reserves the following Monday.

City's youth team take on rivals Hull City at the Wigginton Road training complex at 11am tomorrow.

Updated: 11:33 Friday, January 14, 2005