YORK City boss Chris Brass has told out-of-favour left-back Shaun Smith that he still has a future at Bootham Crescent.

Smith, 33, has not started a first-team game after being substituted at half-time during the 4-0 away defeat at Gravesend & Northfleet in August.

Fellow defender Chris Clarke was also dropped after that match and allowed to join Halifax after disappointing again during a one-match return at Crawley Town.

Clarke's Minstermen career lasted just five games but Brass believes that if Smith is given another chance to impress in the first team he will take it and puts his early-season problems down to rustiness, having missed out on a full pre-season training programme.

The former Crewe captain has figured as a substitute in each of the Minstermen's last two away fixtures in the league and also scored the reserves' goal in a 2-1 home defeat against Scunthorpe on Monday night.

His manager has noted his recent progress and said: "Shaun needed games and now we are having a few more reserve fixtures he's getting them. He did ever so well when he first came in during pre-season but I think he suffered a little bit from missing training all summer.

"He's got quality and one of the best left foots around so, fingers crossed, if he gets an opportunity again he will take it. He had to be dropped earlier in the season but he has reacted well, getting his head down and working hard in training.

"I'm sure if he gets back in the side he won't give me the chance to drop him again."

Brass is hoping hamstring victims Graeme Law and Paul Robinson will both be fit to resume training this week and be involved in Saturday's home match against Forest Green Rovers.

But utility man Gary Pearson is struggling to shrug off the shoulder injury that kept him sidelined for the 3-1 FA Cup exit at Carlisle and long-term casualties Kevin Donovan and Steve Davis remain out of action.

Updated: 10:10 Wednesday, November 03, 2004