YORK City new boy Stephen Brackstone is anxious to make-up for lost time and earn himself a permanent Minstermen deal.

After being laid low by a virus, the former Middlesbrough midfield schemer played only his second game in City colours last night since arriving at Bootham Crescent at the end of February.

And having successfully come through the reserve team's defeat 2-0 to Stockport County, the 19-year-old playmaker is anxious to start pressing for a first-team berth.

Because of his recent illness, the teenager has been left with just six weeks to stake his claim but admits with 11 games to go he is hopeful of playing a part in the first team soon.

And speaking to the Evening Press, Brackstone insists he has not dropped from the Premiership to the Third Division just to put himself in the shop window.

"I had a flu virus for the last week so I've had to spend some days in bed getting some rest," he explained.

"It's not been the best of starts. When you come to a new club you hope to get a better start but all I can do is look forward now."

The one-time England Under-18 international added: "I was coming to end of my professional contract at Middlesbrough and I was told there wasn't going to be another one there, simply because of the amount of professionals that are at the club.

"I was delighted then when York offered me a chance to come down.

"I really like the club, there's a good bunch of lads here, and I just want to do as well as I can for York and see what happens in the time I have got here.

"It's not a problem for me coming down to the Third Division. As soon as I got to York I was really impressed with the set-up and, to be honest, as soon as they asked me to come down I jumped at the chance.

"It's not long now until the end of the season but hopefully I can impress. It would be nice to be involved on Saturday but that is all down to the gaffer."

Brackstone gave an assured performance for City's second-string but could not help a young side stave off defeat to County.

County took the lead on 14 minutes when Marc Thompson upended Chris Williams in the box and Stockport's Neil Ross fired home the resultant penalty.

City were denied an equaliser on 32 minutes by the woodwork as City's latest young international Levent Yalcin's thunderous shot from 25 yards clipped the post.

The visitors doubled their advantage on 72 minutes when Ryan Elderton drove home from the edge of the area past John Collinson, on duty because Russ Howarth is away with England Under-20s.

Defender John Fielding successfully came through 90 minutes as he comes back from a lengthy ankle injury and was unfortunate not to reduce the arrears on 78 minutes when his header hit the crossbar.

Yalcin featured last night fresh from picking up his first international honours with Turkey Under-18s.

Yalcin played up front for the teenage Turks as they lost 1-0 to Holland in Amsterdam.

He is now hoping to be included again when Turkey play another friendly next month.

He is also hoping to force his way into the Turkish Under-19 squad that will be competing in the European Championships this summer.

Updated: 12:17 Tuesday, March 12, 2002