Scunthorpe United are poised to hand a debut to new signing Trevor Berry for tomorrow's visit of York City.

Berry has arrived at Glanford Park on a month's loan from Second Division Rotherham United.

The 26-year-old right winger, a former England youth international signed for £20,000 from Aston Villa three years ago, has struggled to win a regular first-team place at Millmoor this season.

He slapped in a transfer request earlier this week and was snapped up by United manager Brian Laws yesterday.

Laws has acted swiftly following Scunthorpe's 6-0 thrashing at Blackpool last Saturday.

He called his players in for extra training on the Sunday and fielded the entire first team in a reserve match with Stoke City on Monday.

"Maybe that result at Blackpool was the kick up the backside we needed," said Laws.

"It has helped to focus a few minds. Maybe the York game this weekend can give us lift-off for the rest of the season."

Certainly City - without a win in 2001 - will be comforted by the fact that Scunthorpe's League form is currently worse than their own.

Laws' side have not won in Division Three in their last seven attempts, not since a 6-0 drubbing of Mansfield back in November, and have seen their play-off hopes severely dented.

Last Saturday's defeat, coming just six days after United crashed out of the FA Cup losing 5-1 at First Division high-fliers Bolton Wanderers, has turned the heat up on Laws.

However, Scunthorpe chairman Keith Wagstaff this week rubbished claims that former Grimsby Town boss Alan Buckley was being lined up as a replacement.

At the same time The Iron's assistant player-boss Russ Wilcox was unequivocal in his insistence that the squad were "110 per cent" behind Laws.

The beleaguered manager is also still trying to bring striker Nicky Banger back to Glanford Park on loan from Dundee.

The player broke down with a groin strain after just four minutes of his Iron debut against Hartlepool at the beginning of November.

Since then he has been to the FA Centre at Lilleshall to get himself fit and has returned to Scotland.

Scunthorpe cannot offer an horrendous injury list as the reason for their lack of form.

Only former Minstermen favourite Nigel Pepper is currently on the sidelines having broken his leg at the beginning of the season.

Pepper, who made 235 League appearances between 1990-97 for City, is expected to resume light training soon but is not expected to play again this season.

York City(possible): Alan Fettis, Barry Jones, Mark Sertori, Colin Alcide, Neville Stamp, Steve Agnew, Leigh Wood, Graham Potter, David McNiven, Chris Iwelumo, James Turley. Subs (from): Russ Howarth, Scott Jordan, Mark Bower, Darren Patterson, Scott Emmerson, Lee Bullock. Injury news: Peter Duffield (broken leg), Gary Hobson, Darren Edmondson, Christian Fox, Kevin Hulme (all knee), Alex Mathie (hamstring), Wayne Hall (ankle) Suspended: Marc Thompson

Scunthorpe: (possible): Tom Evans, Mark Jackson, Andrew Dawson, Russ Wilcox, Nathan Stanton, Trevor Berry, Bjarni Larusson, Alex Calvio-Garcia, Lee Hodges, Steve Torpey, Guy Ipoua

Subs (from): Darryn Stamp, Paul Harsley, Peter Morrison, Wayne Graves, Stuart Thom, Gareth Sheldon. Injury news: Nigel Pepper (broken leg) Suspended: None

Updated: 12:16 Friday, February 09, 2001