YORK City boss Chris Brass will give a late fitness test to Richard Hope before deciding on his team to face Scunthorpe.

Hope has missed City's last two games against Kidderminster and Oxford with a thigh strain and Brass must decide whether or not to throw him back in after Saturday's 4-1 defeat at Aggborough.

Brass said: "We could take a risk on Richard and I am still considering it. But we could then also run the risk of losing him for one or two more games.

"He's an honest lad and wants to play but it could be silly when there's still 12 games to go. We will have a look at him today and take it from there."

Darren Edmondson will return at right-wing back for City and Darren Dunning is back after a two-match suspension.

Loan signings Justin Walker and Jonjo Dickman will be both missing from the midfield line-up that started at Kidderminster.

Walker has returned to Cambridge after completing two months at Bootham Crescent while Dickman is back in Sunderland getting treatment for the ankle he injured against the Harriers.

Saturday's goalscorer Richard Cooper should start tonight after replacing Dickman at the weekend.

Brass said: "It is pleasing that Darren Edmondson and Darren Dunning are back because they are two of our more experienced players. Saturday came too soon for Darren (Edmondson) and he had to stay on the bench after his injury but he has come through training now with no reaction.

"Lee Nogan took a bad knock at Kidderminster which stiffened up but he's running fine now, which is good because we need all hands to the pump at the moment."

Brass has also spoken out against the challenge on Dickman by Kidderminster left-back Scott Stamps.

He said: "We have lost Jonjo Dickman for a minimum of three weeks now and that hurts especially when I look at the challenge when I got sent off which wasn't anything like that."

Non-contract signing Andy Bell is set to continue on the bench with Brass keen to continue running the rule over the former Wycombe forward, saying: "Andy has come in on a small wage and is somebody we will continue to have a look at."

City's player-boss is also hoping his team can score the first goal in a game for the first time since their last victory - the 2-0 defeat of bottom team Carlisle on January 10.

He said: "It is a long time since we got the first goal in a game and, if we get that, I think you will see a better team. We have got three home games now which is pleasing because the crowd will get behind the youngsters and help them another ten per cent.

"We have got to get our confidence back and give something back to our supporters, who have made sure we will be staying here at our ground."

Squad news:

Probable: Ovendale, Wood, Wise, Smith, Edmondson, Cooper, Ward, Dunning, Merris, Bullock, Nogan. Subs from: Porter, Davies, Yalcin, Bell, Coad.

Probable: Evans, Graves, Butler, Stanton, Ridley, Taylor, Groves, Holloway, Sharp, MacLean, Torpey. Subs (from): Capp, McCombe, Barwick, Hayes, Beagrie, Williams, Parton.

Ref: Mick Fletcher (Worcs)

Kick-off: 7.45pm

Updated: 11:10 Tuesday, March 09, 2004