FORWARD thinking Lee Bullock is primed and ready for a dramatic career change as York City prepare to cross swords with Macclesfield Town.

The 22-year-old swapped his more accustomed midfield berth for an attacking role at home to Bristol Rovers last Saturday and earned rave reviews for his part in the 2-1 win.

Bullock also bagged his third goal of the season against the Pirates to mark him out as City's top scorer so far and edge him ever closer to his ten-goal target for the campaign.

Player-chief Chris Brass reckons striking duties suit Bullock's game and has indicated the Stockton-born player could continue in his attacking role for some time to come.

Bullock told the Evening Press he would be more than happy to stick to striking duties, particularly if the goals continue to flow.

"I really enjoy playing up front," he said,

"It is totally different to midfield. You get a lot of the ball into your feet with your back to goal.

"You get a bit more time if you can find the gaps and if I keep scoring goals I can't see why it can't be permanent.

"I'm happy playing there and as long as the gaffer is happy then that is good enough for me."

Bullock set his ten-goal target at the beginning of the season when he expected to be deployed in his usual central midfield berth.

However, if he continues to play as a striker he admits he may have to reset his aim to something even more ambitious.

"The ten goals mark is at the back of my mind and hopefully I can hit it. It's still early days but to have three goals already is great," he enthused.

"But if I continue playing up front then I really should hit it as well.

"If you play up front all season then you really should be getting ten goals."

Brass has admitted if Bullock continues in his current form he expects bigger clubs will soon be casting envious eyes in City's direction.

Despite the praise, Bullock is determined to keep his feet on the ground.

"It's obviously nice to hear the gaffer saying things like that," said Bullock.

"But it increases the pressure a little bit. You know you have to perform every week.

"At the same time, it should really be like that any way, and any player who is coming to the end of his contract knows he has to perform week in, week out if he is to earn a new one."

Tomorrow's game with the Silkmen will be the Minstermen's tenth league game of the season, a significant benchmark as to how teams are likely to fair in the remainder of the campaign,

After helping City to get back on track with victory over Rovers last Saturday, Bullock reckons City are perfectly poised to push on and consolidate their position among the promotion front-runners.

"We have got a lot of confidence back from our last two home games," he reasoned.

"Macclesfield are doing okay but they aren't setting the world on fire.

"If we can get at them early on then hopefully we can turn the crowd against them and go on to get another win."

He added: "People might just be starting to sit up and take notice of us now.

"But we will just quietly carry on doing what we are doing.

"If we can win six games out of every ten then we can't really complain and will be doing more than okay."

Tomorrow's squads, Nationwide League, Division Three, at Moss Rose:

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

Macclesfield: Myhill, Hitchen, Munroe, Macauley, Welch, Adams, Widdrington, Whitaker, Miles, Carruthers, Little. Subs, from: Wilson, Flitcroft, Haddrell, Carr, Abbey, Smith

Referee: Andrew Marriner (Warwickshire)

Kick off: 3pm

Match facts:

- Five previous League trips to Macclesfield have resulted in two wins and two draws for City. The solitary defeat was in 2001-02 when they went down 2-1.

- They won 2-1 on their first visit in 1998-99 when Rodney Rowe and Mark Tinkler were the marksmen. Chris Iwelumo was the match-winner in 2000-01.

- The sides drew 1-1 in 1999-00 as they did on the opening day of last season when Peter Duffield netted a stoppage time equaliser.

- The City side for this fixture on August 10, 2002 was: Beresford, Okoli (Edmondson), Smith, Jones, Hobson (Parkin), Cowan, Brass, Fox, Brackstone, Nogan (Mathie), Duffield.

- Players to have represented both clubs include Paul Johnson, Phil Wilson, Kevin Hulme and Kieron Durkan.

Updated: 10:16 Friday, September 26, 2003