York City have suffered a sickening injury blow with the news striker Peter Duffield has suffered a hairline fracture of his leg.

The Evening Press can reveal that the former Darlington hitman was only just inching his way back to full fitness after suffering a double break of his right leg in September 2000.

However, it has now been confirmed the 31-year-old sustained a crack just above the ankle of the same leg in the training ground collision with Nick Richardson seven days ago.

It was first thought Duffield had done little more than jar his knee - he was even able to walk off the training ground at the time - but 'X'-rays and a visit to the club's specialist this week confirmed the worst.

Fortunately for City and 'Duffers', the new injury is in a different location to the last one and it is hoped Duffield will be back playing by Christmas.

City chief Terry Dolan today confirmed: "He has cracked the bone just above his ankle.

"It is below where he broke it before so that is good news.

"We are hoping he may be able to play before Christmas but it is obviously a blow to both the club and particularly Peter, especially because it was such a freak incident."

Dolan, who has already seen his small squad decimated by injuries just two weeks into the season, confirmed Duffield's latest injury blow may prompt him to make a move in the transfer market soon.

Midfielder Marc Thompson is also out with a fractured ankle, while Gary Hobson, Alex Mathie and Neville Stamp are all undergoing treatment for less serious injuries.

Richardson was ruled out of the trip to Torquay and Tuesday's Worthington Cup thriller with Crewe following his collision with Duffield while Christian Fox is making a good recovery from major knee surgery but is still some weeks short of being fully-fit.

On a brighter note, City defender Darren Edmondson believes the stirring performance against Crewe Alexandra can prove the springboard for success.

Despite going out of the Worthington Cup on penalties to the Railwaymen, Edmondson believes City's display was of more importance than the result.

He said: "We are disappointed to have gone out but we have got to be proud of how we played. I think we matched them for most of the game and it was a great performance.

"We have got to take that into Saturday's game against Leyton Orient now. Everybody is in a confident mood."

Added the 29-year-old: "There certainly didn't look to be two divisions between the sides. We knew if we kept with them and passed the ball we would get chances and that is what we did.

"We did create chances and confidence is building all the time.

"We are a young team and this was just the sort of display that they need.

"We know we can now play as a team and we can play good football but we have to take it on to the next game.

- Former York City player Colin Alcide scored his first goal for new club Cambridge United last night.

He netted five minutes from normal time to take his side's Worthington Cup first round tie against West Brom into extra time at the Abbey Stadium. The game finished 1-1 and the Baggies won 4-3 on penalties.

Updated: 14:55 Thursday, August 23, 2001