YORK City's injury worries have eased with Paul Robinson, Gary Pearson and Graeme Law all declaring themselves fit for tomorrow's home clash with Forest Green Rovers.

The return of the trio means only skipper Steve Davis and Kevin Donovan are still unavailable for tomorrow's Conference match although Donovan is due to play for the reserves against Doncaster Rovers on Monday night.

Robinson and Pearson are both likely to return to City's starting line-up but Law may be a substitute with City boss Chris Brass confirming that 17-year-old defender Michael Staley will be keeping his place in the team.

Brass said: "Our injury situation looks better for once. Graeme Law, Paul Robinson and Gary Pearson have all trained and I'm hoping they have no ill effects.

"They will be monitored today but, fingers crossed, they will be available. I now have a dilemma of which team to pick rather than it picking itself."

Law and Robinson have both recovered from hamstring problems while Pearson has shrugged off his shoulder injury.

Pearson looks set to partner Brass in the centre of defence with Staley continuing at right back, while Robinson is expected to play on the right wing.

Teenagers Sean Davies and Matthew Coad are likely to make way.

The City boss said: "All the youngsters will still be in the squad but one or two will miss out and one or two will stay in. They all deserve to be in the first-team environment but you need experience around them.

"David Stockdale has come in and they can see if they do well then they will fully deserve to keep their place. Michael Staley will continue to play and deserves to.

"He has taken his opportunity and will now have to do it on a consistent basis."

The match has come too soon for former Grimsby midfielder Donovan but Brass has welcomed the fact that the Minstermen will play reserve games in each of the next four weeks.

He said: "That benefits the players on the fringe and Kevin Donovan will get a run-out on Monday. He's had niggling groin injuries but has worked hard and trained well for a while now.

"It's a case of making sure he's right. We have wrapped him up in cotton wool but now we want to test him and see how close he is. He's certainly not taking steps back as he was before."

Brass also stressed the importance of a home win before his team have to wait another 21 days for their next Bootham Crescent fixture, as well as expressing his frustration that the Minstermen have not been scheduled at home on successive Saturday afternoons once this season.

On the other hand, City endured long trips down south on three consecutive Saturdays in September, have just travelled to top two Barnet and Carlisle on back-to-back weekends and will repeat the trend in December and March.

Brass said: "We never seem to be at home for a sustained period and that makes a result on Saturday all the more important. Canvey Island came to us in our last home game and did not want to be beaten. I think it will be similar tomorrow so we have got to go for it and take the game to them."

City's juniors entertain Grimsby Town tomorrow, kick-off 10.45am.

Tomorrow's squads:

City v Forest Green

Nationwide Conference

(at Bootham Crescent)

City (probable): Stockdale, Staley, Brass, Pearson, Merris, Robinson, Groves, Dunning, Stewart, Bishop, Nogan. Subs from: Porter, Law, Smith, Yalcin, Arthur.

Forest Green (probable): Williams, Lyttle, Garner, Richardson, Davies, Roberts, Gadsby, Rogers, Reed, Beesley, Griffin. Subs: Green, Cleverley, Holloway, Adams, Greaves.

Referee: Ian Nolan (Lancashire)

Kick-off: 3pm

Match points:

City v Forest Green

There have been no previous meetings between the clubs.

Former City player Colin Addison managed Forest Green for a spell in 2003.

One playing link between the two clubs is provided by Adrian Randall. The midfielder became City's most expensive signing when he moved to Bootham Crescent from Burnley for £140,000 in December 1995. He later became Rovers' most expensive transfer when joining them from Salisbury City.

It Happened on November 6

1948 - A 4-0 win over Oldham Athletic at Bootham Crescent in front of 9,921 and City were fifth in Division Three (North). The scorers were Alf Patrick (two), Bert Brenen and Jimmy Rudd. It was City's sixth successive home victory in the process of which they had scored 23 goals and conceded two.

1954 - City won a remarkable game at Carlisle 5-4 with Billy Fenton scoring four goals. Arthur Bottom was the other marksman. Mick Granger made his Football League debut in goal.

1973 - A crowd of 11,152 at Bootham Crescent saw city beat Orient 2-1 after extra time in a third round replay in the Football League Cup. Ian Holmes and Ian Butler were the scorers and City were drawn at home to Manchester City in the next round.

1982 - A 4-0 home win over Aldershot with Brian Pollard and John Byrne each scoring twice. City were mid-table in the Fourth and the attendance was 1,743.

Updated: 10:14 Friday, November 05, 2004