YORK City have dipped into the reserves of South American talent to hand Brazilian striker Rogerio Carvalho a trial at Bootham Crescent.

The 6ft 3ins hit-man from Ituano SC (SB) Brazil has spent the past couple of days training with the Minstermen and is now set to be given his chance to lead the line against Middlesbrough tomorrow night, depending on international clearance.

Coach Adie Shaw told the Evening Press: "He has a strong strike on him, but we haven't had the chance to see him in match action yet, so I think that could come against Middlesbrough tomorrow."

And joining Rogerio in the starting line-up will be young Sunderland keeper John Kennedy, who has been given clearance from the Black Cats to play in the friendly (7.45pm kick-off).

Rogerio, 22, becomes the third player from South America to fly into York, with Argentine duo Marcelo Veron and Nicolas Mazzina spending time at the club during pre-season.

Striker Veron enjoyed a fruitful 17-minute spell against Bracknell, netting City's third goal in the 4-3 defeat, but personal problems saw him fly back to his homeland quickly after.

Winger Mazzina has played a part in all City's warm-up games so far, and despite boss Terry Dolan telling him that he will not be offered a contract, he has remained at the club and could also be included in the squad for the visit of free-spending Middlesbrough.

However, the Argentine winger will first have to have treatment from City physio Jeff Miller after he scored and then hobbled off in last night's 4-1 victory over Tadcaster Albion.

Mazzina was included in the largely reserve squad to help ease the injury problems currently at Bootham Crescent.

But having netted City's second, Mazzina was caught by a crunching tackle and hobbled from the fray. There were encouraging signs for City, with Lee Bullock and Mike Basham managing their first 45 minutes since their operations on troublesome ankles.

Trialist right-back Chris Kamara, who has been released by Leeds, also put in a solid display, as did former Guiseley striker Simon Parke, who hit 16 goals for Southport in the Conference last season.

Both players have been invited back to the club for training this week, with Dolan and his management team to run the rule over their potential.

Shaw added: "Kamara did all right and will come back this week for us to have a look at him for the next few days.

"Parke wasn't really fit as he has just come back after a month in Florida but he played for 65 minutes and looked okay. He has been around the non-League circuit for a while, but has certainly got something about him."

City were trailing after just ten minutes, when Tadcaster converted a penalty, but parity was restored when Craig Wilding scrambled the ball home at the second attempt.

Mazzina made it 2-1 to York at the break, while Christian Fox slotted home a second-half penalty to put the game beyond the plucky Northern Counties East League division one side.

Aidan O'Kane wrapped up matters with a quickly-taken free-kick to make it 4-1.

Swedish midfielder Jesper Blomqvist, 28, has agreed a deal with Middlesbrough, who are due at York tomorrow night. He was released by Everton in May and has been training with the Teessiders over summer.

Updated: 15:44 Tuesday, July 30, 2002