Premiership-class players could be on their way to York City in time for Saturday's trip to Stevenage Borough if caretaker boss Viv Busby can work some loan-deal magic.

The caretaker manager has taken his search for some much-needed experience to the highest level and last night watched Leeds United's Premiership Reserve game against Middlesbrough in the hope of ensnaring one to the Minstermen cause with another target due to come under his scrutiny tonight.

Busby issued a plea to the board following Sunday's second derby defeat at the hands of Scarborough in a week and has been given a provisional green light to draft in new talent.

He said: "There's a possibility that we might be able to take someone on.

"I have spoken to the board and they have said that if I can arrange a deal, they can probably do it, so we are looking at a couple of games this week.

"I need to bring people in with more experience. There are a lot of young lads playing at the moment and they have done really well, but we could do with that extra experience. So, if we think these players we are looking at are better, then that would really help."

Centre-back Jon Maloney arrived on loan last week from Doncaster Rovers to fill the gap left by Chris Brass, becoming the latest in a long line of defenders to come in on loan, including Aston Villa trainee Lee Grant.

But the focus has now shifted away from the back-line.

Busby said: "I'm not really looking for any specific positions to fill, we are trying to strengthen all the way round. We have got a small squad and we could really use an extra one or two.

"We will have a look at what's available and we may have a couple of bodies in by Saturday."

Gary Pearson has been training with the squad to keep his fitness levels up while waiting for a shoulder operation but is still at least five weeks off from a comeback.

The midfielder-cum-centre half is due to have an arthroscopy on his shoulder and will be out of action for several weeks after. But in the meantime he has been going through the paces at training, albeit with any contact element removed.

Said Busby: "We've been keeping his legs going so that when he can't train at all for a week or so after the operation, he won't lose too much fitness."

Another of City's long-term casualties, skipper Steve Davis, is edging closer to fitness and may be in the running for a brief reserve team appearance next week.

Busby said: "He may get a run out in the reserves - even if it's only for 15 minutes or something.

"But it all depends on the progress he makes in training this week."

Meanwhile, Brass yesterday underwent a scan on his injured knee that should reveal the extent of the damage.

Updated: 11:13 Thursday, January 06, 2005