YORK City were facing an anxious wait today on the fitness of skipper Darren Edmondson.

The club's influential captain tasted competitive action for the first time in more than eight weeks in yesterday's 2-1 reserve team victory at Darlington.

In a massive boost for City, Edmondson came through 50 minutes unscathed before being withdrawn.

However, the Minstermen must now hope the former Huddersfield Town defender suffers no reaction before deciding to include Edmondson in Saturday's squad for Scunthorpe.

The 31-year-old has been out since August with what was initially believed to be only a minor calf strain.

However, the injury has taken much longer to heal than was anticipated.

His importance to the side cannot be underestimated. City have won just twice during his 11 game absence after starting the season under his captaincy with four straight wins.

City's fitness coach Kevin Hornsby said: "We will have to see what today brings but hopefully Darren will show no reaction.

"He was taken off purely and simply because last night was his first game in eight weeks and it was always our intention to play him for about 50 minutes.

"Darren has been working really hard with me and provided he shows no reaction he has thrown down his claim to be at least included in the squad for Saturday."

In further good news for City, a knee injury suffered by utility player Steve Downes last week is not as serious as first feared.

As reported in the Evening Press, Downes suffered medial knee ligament in training last Friday that forced his withdrawal from the first-team squad that drew 1-1 with Boston.

Swelling made it difficult for the injury to be immediately diagnosed but now it is hoped Downes merely stretched the ligament rather than snapped it.

"It is really a matter of rest and being cautious," said Hornsby. "But Steve is already going to the gym and working on his upper body strength."

City reserves battled back from going a goal behind to defeat their Darlington counterparts last night.

Ashley Nicholls fired the Quakers in front but goals from Liam George and on-loan Middlesbrough starlet Craig Dove sealed the win for City.

Updated: 11:05 Thursday, October 23, 2003