Jonjo Dickman will be plunged straight into the thick of things against Scunthorpe United tomorrow with a start in the centre of midfield.

The 22-year-old Sunderland fringe player - signed on loan earlier this week to help to shore up the middle of the park with captain Darren Edmondson injured and Darren Dunning suspended - goes straight into the starting line-up against The Iron.

Player-manager Chris Brass said: "Jonjo will get a start. He's someone who I've stated I wanted to bring in earlier but because of certain things I haven't been able to.

"But he's a fresh face, a fit lad, and he will fill the void left by Darren (Dunning) in the engine room for at least the couple of games that he'll be out and that's something that you need."

Skipper Edmondson, who had originally hoped to return in time for the Scunthorpe game, will be out longer than expected after his calf injury was discovered to be more serious than initially thought.

Said Brass: "It's frustrating and disappointing but it's similar to the one at the beginning of the season when we thought we were losing him for two weeks but ended up losing him for six or seven games so we can't rush him back.

"We have to make sure it's 100 per cent right and then take our time bringing him back."

The loss of Edmondson could clear the way for Justin Walker to make a start against his former club with Dave Merris likely to return on the left and Richard Cooper a possible candidate at right wing-back.

City will be needing all the fire they can get as they attempt to shake off a miserable run of form that has seen them take just one point from a possible 21.

Scunthorpe have found themselves in a similar rut but managed to break out, albeit temporarily, with a 1-0 defeat of Northampton Town last Saturday for their first win in 12 games. They then lost 1-0 in midweek at Torquay.

A win for The Iron would move them above City, while victory for the Minstermen would open up a more comfortable gap between them and the bottom half.

Brass believed it may be a close-run thing. "I think it's going to really be down to whoever can take the first goal." he said. "It's going to be one of those games.

"Whenever we have got the first goal in a game, we have gone on to definitely get something out of it, if not gone on to win.

"So if we can make sure we can get that then I think that will just relax us all a bit more and I think you will see a different team."

City were keeping a close watch on the weather today and overnight with a possible pitch inspection planned for tomorrow.

Match points:

- Since beating United 2-0 at home in September 2000 City have lost five and drawn one in six subsequent outings (home/away) against The Iron.

- Scunthorpe have a good record at Bootham Crescent with ten wins and four draws in 27 visits and have won on their last two trips.

- City's biggest win in the series was 5-1 in 1992/93 when Paul Barnes scored four goals.

- The corresponding match last season was played on New Year's Day, 2003. United won 3-1 with Darren Edmondson scoring the consolation goal. The City side was: Fettis, Edmondson, Smith (Cooper), Hobson, Cowans, Potter, Fox, Bullock, Nogan (Wilding), Duffield, Parkin.

- Players to have represented both clubs include keepers Graeme Crawford and Joe Neenan. Others are Jimmy Rudd, Ian Davidson, Keith Houchen, Ian Helliwell, Nigel Pepper and Martin Carruthers.

Statistics by David Batters

Updated: 10:57 Friday, February 27, 2004