The future of York City will take to the field against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the FA Youth Cup tonight with manager Terry Dolan revealing more of his Bootham Crescent blueprint.

City youngsters take on Wolves at Molineux in tonight's fourth round tie, kick-off 7pm, having done well just to reach this stage of the prestigious competition.

Only one other Third Division club has seen its youth team reach the fourth round with Scunthorpe United drawn to face Manchester United.

Victory tonight could help lift the mood at Bootham Crescent and hand the youngsters a plum fifth round home tie against either Wimbledon or Derby County.

However, Dolan is looking beyond tonight's game and the result.

"They have got to the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup and for a club at this level it is a good achievement," he said.

"You are always looking for one or two individuals to push through but because of the number of pros we have got not too many of the youngsters have had the opportunity to push through to the reserves.

"That is what I am hoping to achieve in the next 12 months so the squad is streamlined and we can blood one or two more youngsters on a more regular basis in the reserves.

"That has always been the future of York City and as long as we have got boys coming through then it will remain the future of York City."

Despite Saturday's 4-0 derby defeat at Scarborough in the Football League Youth Alliance, assistant youth coach Brian Neaves insists the youngsters are in good spirits for tonight's cup clash.

"If we play to our maximum potential we will have a chance of winning the game," he said.

"The lads wouldn't admit it, but they have probably been a bit pre-occupied with this game coming up and to be fair we have been fielding quite a young team because we have got a few niggles and knocks and we wanted to make sure the lads are fit for tonight.

"No one likes losing 4-0 but we had four first-years and also four Under-16s with us on Saturday and Scarborough actually scored three goals in six minutes. Take those away and we were always in the game."

Utility player Adam Russell is definitely out with an ankle injury suffered in the last round when City were held 1-1 by Huddersfield Town at Bootham Crescent before winning 1-0 at the McAlpine Stadium.

Winger Marc Salvati has a thigh injury and is also doubtful although full-back Chris Gowen, who has made a number of reserve team appearances this season, is expected to shake-off a knee problem.

England Under-15 international Chris Hogg is included in the squad as are Graeme Law and Michael McKenzie, both York youngsters and like Hogg members of City's Under-16s.

The fact City have been handed a home draw for the fifth round should they overcome Wolves was an added incentive, admitted Neaves.

"We feel the draw has given us another chance. Although Derby are a Premiership club we have avoided any of the really big guns.

"However, we cannot afford to look too far ahead and we are taking at one game at a time."

Updated: 11:36 Tuesday, January 16, 2001