NEW loan ranger Dean Crowe is aiming to net himself the chance of a permanent contract with York City - by scoring plenty of goals.

The 24-year-old, who signed on a month-long deal from Luton Town on Friday, is hoping to play a big part for the Minstermen tonight as they visit Bury for a Division Three clash (7.45pm).

And he is confident of repaying the faith shown in him by player-manager Chris Brass, who brought him north.

"The aim is to try to get as many goals as I can in the month," he told the Evening Press.

"If I can get a goal pretty early on in the month, I'm more than sure I can follow up with a few more.

"I'm looking forward to getting playing and once the games start to come, confidence comes back and I think I can do a good job here. I hope to get on tonight and I will be ready for it if called upon."

Crowe made his debut for the Minstermen as a substitute in Saturday's stalemate at Macclesfield. It was the first time he had met several of his team-mates.

"I enjoyed it," he said. "I've played against a few of the lads before but it was the first time I had seen most of them play. They played some really good football, worked hard for each other. I was eager to get on and I enjoyed it, and it was a good point won."

Crowe, from Stockport, is looking to return north after three years at Luton following six years at Stoke City.

"It's got a bit dry at Luton," he explained. "I had a bad time at the end of last season when I cracked a bone in my right leg, and I've been playing catch-up since then. I've been on the bench a lot this season and I need games really. I feel this move could benefit both parties.

"I'm looking to get back up north. We got promoted and I've enjoyed it at Luton but I feel now is the time to get a bit closer to home."

Crowe had his first training session with City yesterday, and he has acclaimed his new team-mates for helping him settle in quickly.

"They seem a good set of lads," he said. "Everyone has a laugh in training, there's a good coach and good manager.

"I'm pretty impressed with them. There's a good spirit and that's what you need when you come to a new club to make you feel at home."

Coincidentally, Crowe has had two loan spells at tonight's opponents, Bury, during his career, and he was looking forward to returning to Gigg Lane.

"Andy Preece, the Bury manager, took me there and I've got a lot of respect for him," he said. "He's a good manager and is good man-to-man. I used to speak to him a lot and it will be good to meet up."

Tonight's squads, Nationwide League, Division Three, at Gigg Lane:

York City: from: Ovendale, Cooper, Wood, Brass, Hope, Merris, Dunning, Ward, Bullock, George, Wilford, Porter, Smith, Fox, Stewart, Brackstone, Law, Crowe.

Bury: possible: Garner, Unsworth, Strong, Swailes, Woodthorpe, Singh, Duxbury, Shaungnessy, Connell, Seddon, Preece. Subs: Porter, Whelan, Thornley, Whaley, Kennedy

Referee: Andy Penn (West Midlands)

Kick off: 7.45pm

Match points:

- CITY have won twice and drawn once in 13 past League trips to Gigg Lane.

- The two successes were in the 1980s. In 1983-84 John Byrne (2) and Keith Walwyn scored in a 3-1 win and Tony Clegg netted the only goal of the game in 1987-88.

- The sole draw was 1-1 in City's promotion season of 1992-93.

- The heaviest reverses have been 4-1 in 1957-58 and 1996-97.

- City went down 2-1 in the corresponding game last term on September 6, 2002. Tom Cowan scored the consolation goal. The side was: Fettis, Edmondson, Smith (Mathie), Brass, Cowan, Potter (Hobson), Bullock, Brackstone, Duffield, Nogan, Parkin (Rogerio).

- Among the players to have played for both clubs are Paul Aimson, George Hamstead, Billy Rudd, Alan Whitehead, Paul Atkin, Dean Kiely, Shaun Reid and Rob Matthews.

Updated: 10:51 Tuesday, September 30, 2003