'I CAN do better' is the message from York City shot-stopper Alan Fettis.

The Northern Ireland international has been producing some of his best form of late, but Fettis is personally not happy with his displays.

Fettis, who has been out of the national team for two years after winning 25 caps, picked up the man-of-the-match awards for City's games against Southend United and Kidderminster Harriers.

But these accolades count for little to Fettis if he concedes a goal or the team lose.

"As far as I'm concerned I've conceded too many goals. People are saying I'm playing well, but at the end of the day I'm conceding goals so I don't believe I am," he said.

"I'm just not happy conceding goals. Even when we win I think to myself I could have done better - you just strive for the perfect game and when you don't get it you're upset, so I'll just have to keep working hard.

"I've always said that it's nice that people appreciate you, but if we win 1-0 and I have a quiet afternoon that is far more important to me."

Fettis has conceded five goals - five too many in his view - in his last two games, and although he can hold his head high, he knows there are problems that need to be addressed if his forced to play well.

"I've played well for the last couple of games, but that is by-the-by because for me to play well we must be doing something wrong," said Fettis.

"If the goalkeeper plays well then we have problems that we need to put right, but to be fair we've had a few injuries to players in key positions which hasn't helped things."

Fortunately, the injury problems the Minstermen have faced this season are now beginning to subside, with Graham Potter, Darren Edmondson and Gary Hobson all fighting fit, while Alex Mathie, John Fielding, Mike Basham and Mark Salvati are all on the mend to add strength in depth to the squad.

One place City are not short of competition is in the battle for the No1 jersey with Reserve 'keeper Russ Howarth and even young pretender John Collinson breathing down the neck of 30-year-old Fettis.

And it is the form of Howarth, who was City's man-of-the-match in the 2-0 defeat by Notts County - his only first team appearance this season - which many believe has brought the best out of Fettis.

But having watched Howarth develop since he has been at the club, Fettis has never been any doubt in his friendly rival's ability.

"Russ is a good 'keeper, I've never doubted that. People keep talking about how well he is playing, but I've trained with him for two years nearly so I know he is great 'keeper, who has a big future in the game," he added.

"We get on very well together and help each other where ever we can."

But if Fettis continues to reproduce his current form, Howarth's great displays could well be limited to the reserves.

Updated: 11:33 Saturday, October 27, 2001