Goal hero Liam George is being wrapped in cotton wool this week to make sure he stays fit for York City's next battle in the war against relegation on Saturday.

The fit-again striker scored 24 minutes into City's crucial clash against Bury in his first start since September after being sidelined with shin splints for the majority of the season.

The goal was also the first notched by the Minstermen in 399 minutes of blank fare.

Marksman George showed signs of struggling towards the end of the Bury contest, but still managed to complete the 90 minutes.

Manager Chris Brass said his striker will now be on the receiving end of some tender loving care to get him ready to face Cheltenham Town - managed by former City boss John Ward - at Bootham Crescent on Saturday.

Said Brass: "With Liam it was just a fitness thing. He absolutely died on his feet towards the end but we will wrap him up in cotton wool now so he's ready for the weekend.

"We've got to make sure everybody is fit and well because now is not the time to be losing players to injury."

Centre-back Stuart Wise was replaced by veteran midfielder Mitch Ward on 70 minutes suffering from a tight calf but it is 'nothing too serious' according to Brass, and Wise should be okay within 48 hours.

Skipper Darren Edmondson, meanwhile, showed no signs of his calf problem returning to haunt him, and Brass credited his general level of fitness for his healthy return.

He said: "If you have got a high level of fitness you have got a good chance of coming back and playing like you have never been away."

Brass himself picked up a nasty facial knock after a clash of heads during the Bury game, but says he is reporting no ill-effects other than a bit of swelling.

He said: "It reminded me of when I fractured my cheek bone and I was thinking 'oh, no, not the other side' but it's not too bad.

"It's quite swollen but there's no lasting damage."

Meanwhile, City's fellow relegation-imperilled club Scunthorpe United have completed a bizarre about-turn.

The Iron have reinstated manager Brian Laws three weeks after he was sacked. The 'U'-turn follows the resignation of chairman Chris Holland.

Laws parted company with Scunthorpe by mutual consent last month after being in charge at the Glanford Park club for six years.

But in a shake-up after which major shareholder Steve Wharton regained control of the club, ex-Nottingham Forest and Grimsby Town defender Laws agreed to a dramatic return with just four games of the season remaining starting with leading The Iron into Saturday's crucial trip to promotion-chasing Huddersfield.

Like Rochdale and Darlington, Scunthorpe are fixed in the sights of second-from bottom York, who have a game in hand over all three clubs. City are level with Rochdale on 43 points, with both trailing Darlington and Scunthorpe by three points.

Updated: 10:21 Thursday, April 15, 2004