Former York City junior Nick Culkin will not be playing at Bootham Crescent next season after ruling out a Rovers return.

Instead, Culkin insists his future remains with Manchester United and has set his sights on mission near-impossible - ousting World Cup winner Fabien Barthez from the number one spot at Old Trafford.

Culkin returned to United after his year-long loan spell with Bristol Rovers ended but was tipped to move to the Memorial Ground this summer in a permanent tie-up.

With Rovers relegated to Division Three at the end of last season, a second Pirates stint would have seen Culkin serving as Rovers' last line of defence against York City, his home-town club, in the upcoming campaign.

However, speaking exclusively to the Evening Press, Culkin, from Stamford Bridge, moved quickly to scotch the rumours.

"The reports about me going back to Bristol Rovers were all speculation and had nothing to do with me," he insisted.

"As far as I am concerned I am a Manchester United player and I will be going back on July 9 for the start of pre-season."

He added: "I am going for the number one spot never mind the number two spot - you have got to set your sights high.

"Obviously, I know Fabien Barthez is the best goalkeeper in the world but I will be working as hard as I can to get in the first team and hopefully this season I will get more experience on the bench and around Europe.

"I know I won't be playing week in, week out but if the chance comes along I need to grasp it with both hands.

"Hopefully, I will get a game here and there and when I do I have got to take my chance."

Culkin admits he is relishing the opportunity of working alongside Barthez for the first time - the 22-year-old had already departed for Bristol when the French international arrived from Monaco last summer.

"It is something to look forward to and I'm sure I'll learn a lot from him," he said.

"I learned a lot from Peter Schmeichel and when I go back in July I expect to learn a lot from Barthez.

"It will certainly be interesting, they are both very different goalkeepers in style."

Despite ruling out a return to Bristol Rovers, Culkin, who still has a year left of his current United contract, admitted his season-long loan spell in Division Two had left him in good shape for another crack at fulfilling his Premiership potential.

Updated: 09:16 Friday, June 29, 2001