YORK City defender Neville Stamp is desperate to make up for lost time, writes Dave Stanford.

The former Reading full-back put weeks of injury misery behind him when he successfully came through 90 minutes of reserve team football on Wednesday.

Stamp, out with a groin strain, admitted he was delighted to be back after revealing his time on the sidelines had been particularly frustrating.

Having seen veteran left-back Wayne Hall leave Bootham Crescent at the end of last season, Stamp believed he had been handed a gilt-edge chance to establish himself as City's first choice left-back.

Adding to his sense of frustration has been the fact City have reverted to a flat-back four during his time on the sidelines - a system that suits the swashbuckling 20-year-old.

"There's certainly more scope for a player playing in my position to be involved when the team is playing 4-4-2 and it is just a case of knuckling down to it now and try and get back in the team," he told the Evening Press.

"I was gutted to get injured, especially at that time of the season. It's the worst time just as the season is about to begin."

Stamp admitted his reserve team outing had also helped draw a line under a difficult couple of weeks. As reported in the Evening Press last month, Stamp and team mate Chris Smith were both set upon by thugs during a night out in the city which resulted in Smith spending time in hospital with concussion. Stamp escaped with cuts and bruises.

"It was really good for me to be playing again, especially after what has happened over the last few weeks," he conceded.

"I was well chuffed with it, especially to play the full 90 minutes.

"I was a bit tired towards the end, but you'd expect that."

Now Stamp is looking to push Graham Potter hard for the left-back spot and certainly his return increases Terry Dolan's options in what is likely to prove a testing few weeks for the Minstermen.

"I want to get back in as soon as possible, especially when the team is doing well," said Stamp.

"It's great time to be involved and if I do come back in I will be well chuffed.

"At the moment, it's completely different to last season and the pressure is not the same.

"The players can relax a lot more now and that shows in the way we are playing. We are passing the ball a lot better than last season and it can only get better to be honest."

Updated: 12:01 Saturday, September 08, 2001