YORK CITY manager Terry Dolan has been handed a midfield headache ahead of Boxing Day's trip to Macclesfield with the news Steve Agnew will definitely miss the game.

The 35-year-old was taken off at half-time during last night's 2-0 defeat by Blackpool suffering from ankle trouble and now joins suspended central midfield partner Kevin Hulme on the sidelines at Moss Rose.

Furthermore, Lee Bullock is still ruled out with a knee problem and Christian Fox is yet to taste first-team action after two months out with his own knee trouble.

So of Dolan's five main midfielders, only Scott Jordan, who came on for Agnew last night, is left, while to add to the manager's woes, centre-back Mark Bower suffered a hamstring injury last night - being replaced by striker-cum-defender Colin Alcide at the interval - and he too will miss the trip to Cheshire.

Macclesfield Town v City

Match Points

CITY are unbeaten in three previous visits to Moss Rose.

In 1983-4 they drew a first round FA Cup tie 0-0 at Macclesfield (City won the reply).

Their first League trip was in April 1999 when Rodney Rowe and Mark Tinkler scored in a 2-1 win.

The corresponding game last term ended 1-1 with former Macclesfield player Kevin Hulme netting the equaliser.

Other players to have represented both clubs include defender Paul Johnson and midfielder Phil Wilson in the 1980s.

Statistics compiled by David Batters