York City's leading scorer Lee Nogan is hoping for a recall to tomorrow's starting line-up at Hull City.
Player-boss Chris Brass has said he expects to make "one or two changes" from the team that drew 0-0 at Southend last Tuesday and his assistant Nogan could come back into contention.
Seven-goal Nogan was a substitute at Roots Hall because of a spot of sciatica and would have also been on the bench for Saturday's home game with Lincoln until it was postponed.
But the 34-year-old forward is now fully fit and looks poised to partner either Lee Bullock or Jon Parkin in the Minstermen's attack at the KC Stadium.
Nogan said: "I had a bit of a rest because of my sciatica problem but it's better now. You always want to play when you are fully fit but I did not want to risk it.
"Jon Parkin came in and did all right but we will see now. We have trained hard and I have trained all week.
"Myself and the manager will now look at things, have a chat and see what our best option is for Hull. I'm really looking forward to going there."
If Nogan does start in the dugout then he admitted it would not necessarily be his decision to bring himself on if required.
Youth team coach Paul Stancliffe is normally assigned with that duty when Brass and Nogan are both on the pitch and also assumed that responsibility at Southend.
Nogan said: "When we went down there it was funny because Stan turned to me and said 'you better warm-up because you are going on in a minute'. That was great because you need that.
"Sometimes you get engrossed in the game and it's difficult when it's 0-0 but Jon Parkin had not played a lot of football and towards the end you do tire."
Nogan did admit though that decisions over substitutions are made easier when you are on the touch-line, saying: "You can change things easier from the dug-out. That was the case when I was out with a virus earlier in the season and you can see things happening in the game better whereas when you are on the pitch you are concentrating more on your own game.
"You might see a few things but it's up to Paul Stancliffe when we are both playing. We give him the reins and are confident in his ability."
Nogan will be 35 in May but still believes he can carry on playing for another two years. He said: "I keep saying it and I will reiterate it - I think I can play for at least two years. I will be honest with myself if I can't and will stop."
The City coach is also hoping that this week's news the club will be staying at Bootham Crescent for the foreseeable future will lift the team at Hull.
He said: "We appreciate how much hard work has gone in off the field and now it's up to us to try and deliver on the football field.
"Things are positive now and we can go forward. The rest is history and it's a new dawn for York City."
Fans are reminded that Saturday's party at the social club to hail the deal that keeps the football club at Bootham Crescent will start at 6.30 pm.
York City Team (probable):Ovendale, Smith, Brass, Hope, Edmondson, Walker, Ward, Dunning, Merris, Nogan, Bullock.
Subs: (from): Porter, Yalcin, Nogan, Cooper, Fox, Davies.
Hull City Team (probable): Myhill, Hinds, Delaney, Joseph, Dawson, Price, Green, Ashbee, Elliott, Burgess, Allsopp.
Subs: Marshall, Walters, Musselwhite, Whittle, Holt.
-City have made 24 previous League visits to Hull and have won six times with eight draws.
- Their biggest victory was 4-1 at Boothferry Park with Paul Aimson scoring a memorable hat-trick.
- A 3-2 win in 1948/49 with Alf Patrick (2) and George Ivey the marksmen was watched by a crowd of 40,000.
- City's last win at Hull was in 1995/96 when Paul Barnes (2) and Nick Peverell scored in a 3-0 triumph.
- City's first visit to the KC Stadium last season ended in a goal-less draw in front of 18,437. City's line up on January 25th 2003 was: Ingham, Brass, Parkin, Jones, Cowan, Cooper, Potter, Bullock, Duffield (Yalcin), Nogan, Reddy.
- City's heaviest defeats at Hull were 4-0 in 1982/83 and 2001/02.
- Among the players to have played for both clubs are Tommy Forgan, Ernie Phillips, Norman Wilkinson, Gordon Staniforth, Gary Swann, Ian Butler, Derek Hood, Matt Hocking, Rodney Rowe and Alan Fettis.
Updated: 11:09 Friday, February 06, 2004
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