Youth in reserve

But, according to Shaw, that can only spell good fortune for the club in the long-term.

Terry Dolan's decision to trim his senior squad and lower its average age was done, in part, to keep the Minstermen always primed and ready.

Last year's over-inflated squad meant too many pros were struggling to achieve even a starting berth in the reserves.

A lack of football and no realistic chance of action serves only to breed disillusionment, which can then ripple through the squad doing untold harm.

Given the size of this year's squad, that is unlikely to happen. And given that every senior pro must expect to get a first team chance sooner rather than later as injuries mount up it makes for a happier camp.

And while the injuries that were always going to stretch the squad to its limits have struck earlier than can have been anticipated, Shaw is insistent every cloud has a silver lining.

For while City, in light of their current injury crisis, are expected to turn to the club's intermediates to fill the voids in the reserves that can only help speed up their development.

"It will be a tough game on Wednesday but they will all be tough this year given the age of the first team squad never mind the reserves," said Shaw.

"I think the reserves will be more of a youth side, which is terrific for the young lads.

"It is good experience for them, it will be a good test and it can be seen as a stepping stone."

According to Shaw, it won't just be the youth team who will benefit from their progression to the reserve team.

"It can sweep through the club and it triggers everything off," said Shaw, who argues the club's under-16s can then play the odd game for the inters.

"We have always worked it with the youth side so that we bring the under-16s into the youth team after Christmas so they have already got a feel of it, which is good progression.

"It means those who then start their traineeships have already played at that level and proved they can cope with it.

"And that's better for the lads and the club than if they are just coming in cold."

TWO former City young guns have headed to the Valleys in a bid to resurrect their fledgling careers.

Former trainees Adam Rus-sell and Gary Ormston, both released by the club last year, are currently on trial at League of Wales champions and Welsh Cup winners Barry Town.

Russell scored the only goal in Barry's 1-0 friendly win over Merthyr Tydfil while Ormston was an unused substitute.

Meanwhile, ex-City 'keeper Tim Clarke has left Barry and returned to Halesowen after his loan stint with the Welsh champions came to an end.

Clarke made four appearances and played in Barry's Champions League encounters with Portuguese giants Porto earlier in the summer.

Former City striker Marc Williams got Bangor's League of Wales season off to a flyer by scoring twice in their 3-1 win over Port Talbot. Williams is assistant boss at Bangor.

LOAN ranger Michael Proctor is the early front runner in the Evening Press Player of the Year award.

The on-loan Sunderland striker has still to score for City but his superb display against Torquay earned him the man of the match and three points.

John Fielding picked up two points for his promising debut while Richard Cooper marked his first start of the campaign by earning one.

On Tuesday against Crewe, Lee Bullock was the man of the match as he notched his second goal in two games, while defender Darren Edmondson kept up the pressure on Proctor by earning two points for a swashbuckling display.

Alan Fettis finally got off the mark in defence of his trophy, picking up the final point for a series of fine saves.

The player of the year format sees City's man of the match in each game receive three points, the second best two points and the third best one.

Standings: Michael Proctor 8, Darren Edmondson 7, Lee Bullock 4, John Fielding 2, Chris Brass 1, Richard Cooper 1, Alan Fettis 1.