DUTCHMAN Michael Evans is gunning for goals after being handed a footballing lifeline by Terry Dolan and York City.

As first revealed in the Evening Press, trialist Evans, 25, has been snapped up by City chief Dolan on a one-month contract and was drafted straight into the squad for this afternoon's derby tussle at Hull City.

Evans was expected to start on the bench against the Tigers, but his chances of being involved were increased by the news that Scott Emmerson was withdrawn from the squad after picking up an injury in training yesterday.

In front of a full house and vociferous crowd at Boothferry Park, it promised to be a baptism of fire for Evans, but one he insisted he would relish.

"I would like to get a full time contract here. This is a big chance for me and I hope I can play against Hull," he told the Evening Press.

"It is big game and I have only once played in front of 12,000 people and that was in the Amstel Cup against PSV Eindhoven We lost 2-0 but it was nice and a great experience."

Dolan, who lacks cover in the goalscoring department, admitted a one month contract gives him more time to cast his eye over Evans, who scored for City reserves in their 1-0 win over Walsall in midweek.

Evans, who has an American father, is currently a free agent after six years with Dutch first division outfit VVV Venlo, where he was a regular on the scoresheet.

He admitted scoring for City's reserves had boosted his confidence and he was desperate to get a taste of more senior action.

"It was good to score for the reserves. I feel very sharp now and I'm scoring in training games and I just want to score as many goals as I can," he insisted.

Despite having played all his football in Holland, Evans is no stranger to English football.

"I watch English football all the time in Holland, on Match of the Day," he said.

"I like it a lot. I like the atmosphere. The people are always behind the team which is not always the same in Holland.

"If you lose five games in Holland everyone is very negative, but here everyone is behind you even when you lose."

Revealing more about his career in Holland, Evans added: "I was at Venlo for six years and I was a full-time professional there.

"It is not the same as the English First Division.

"It is perhaps the same or lower than here at York.

"In my first season I was just an amateur and I scored nine goals for them in something like 24 games.

"I then had a bad season. The manager didn't like me and so I scored four times, I think, in 30 games but I was always substitute.

"Last season I scored six goals in 24 games.

"A few weeks ago I was at Bradford City but it didn't work out and so I came to York a couple of weeks ago."

Updated: 11:58 Saturday, September 08, 2001