SHEFFIELD United are the latest club to be linked with York City's on-loan striker and top goal scorer Michael Proctor.

The Blades' former Scarborough boss Neil Warnock is reported to have had the 11-goal hit-man watched on a number of occasions this season and is said to be considering a £1million summer swoop.

Proctor, on loan from Sunderland, is out of contract at the Stadium of Light at the end of the season and has attracted interest from a number of clubs, most notably Luton and Darlington, since the turn of the year.

Prospective new City owner John Batchelor has also indicated his willingness to try to keep the 21-year-old at Bootham Crescent beyond this season once his take-over of the club go through.

Speaking to the Evening Press last week, Proctor said he was happy to see out this season with City and would not be making a decision on his future until the summer.

Although cash is tight at Bramall Lane, Warnock has handed several first teamers free transfers this summer to raise funds for a sustained Premiership push next season.

United have lacked a cutting edge this season, with 42 goals leaving them set in Division One's no-man's land, and Warnock believes the Blades are just "two or three" signings away from being a force.

"I'm looking for two strikers to trigger our goalscoring for next season because that's been the most frustrating and disappointing aspect of our campaign," he said.

City are likely to be without the services of influential defender Darren Edmondson for Saturday's visit of Darlington to Bootham Crescent.

Edmondson has missed City's last two outings with a calf strain but was hopeful of returning to action at the weekend.

However, Dolan admits the former Huddersfield Town players is a major doubt.

"He is still not right and I doubt he will be fit," said Dolan. There are also doubts over the fitness of Mike Basham (thigh) and Nick Richardson (calf).

City goalkeeper Russ Howarth added to his collection of international caps last night when he was a second-half substitute in England Under-20s' 3-0 win over Finland.

In front of a crowd of 10, 585, Howarth had to wait until the second-half before joining the action at Bolton Wanderers' Reebok Stadium.

Chelsea's Rhys Evans played the opening 45 minutes of the friendly and helped safeguard England to a 1-0 half-time lead, Manchester United's James Davis finding the target.

Davis grabbed his and England's second five minutes after Howarth's arrival on the scene before Blackburn's Marc Richards completed the scoring on 77 minutes.

A young City reserves suffered their second defeat inside 48 hours when they went down 1-0 to Walsall at the Bescot Stadium in a bottom versus top Avon Insurance Division One clash. Former Everton striker Brett Angell scored Walsall's winner in the second-half.

AN announcement on the sale of York City Football Club is not expected until tomorrow.

Prospective new owner John Batchelor, owner-driver of the B&Q Honda Integra race team, was today testing his new car for the upcoming British Touring Car Championship at Silverstone.

Batchelor indicated this week he hopes to be chairman in time for Saturday's home game with Darlington.

Updated: 11:40 Thursday, March 14, 2002