Peter Duffield might not be able to fire York City into the second round of the LDV Vans Trophy tonight, but he is still eager to help his team-mates put one over his former club.

The crocked hitman, out for the season after breaking his leg against Scunthorpe in early September, was used as a spy to watch his former Darlington team-mates take on Blackpool last week, seeing the Quakers lose 2-1 at Bloomfield Road.

The 31-year-old, who moved to Bootham Crescent in the summer and scored against his former club when the sides drew 1-1 at Feethams early in the season, had been asked by boss Terry Dolan to get the low-down on City's first-round opponents.

"It was my idea to send him there... and we will find out tonight if we have learnt anything from the trip." said the City chief.

"He did a basic match report which we do on our opposition. (Scout) Arthur Perry was away watching another game so we took the opportunity to give Peter the chance to watch a match, and it just so happened, by coincidence, that it was Darlington."

Duffield, however, would not have had the chance to catch up with his old friends. "I don't think he will have seen any former team-mates. He will have got there just before kick-off and then gone at the end," said Dolan.

"It was an opportunity to keep him involved while he is not in full training."

Dolan did not say what team he will put out to combat the Quakers, but with Reading loanee Chris Iwelumo not able to play, he is forced to make at least one change - and is set to make more - from the team that beat Shrewsbury Town 2-1 at Bootham Crescent on Saturday.

Fellow loanees Neil Tarrant and Mark Bower have been given permission to play by Aston Villa and Bradford City, respectively, while strikers John Williams and James Turley and defenders Neville Stamp and Marc Thomspon are all added to the squad.

Midfielder Christian Fox started training again today after knee trouble, but neither he nor new signing Darren Patterson have been considered as they are not yet fit enough.

Dolan said: "This is a chance for one or two players to get match practice, but the bottom line is we want to win it and get through to the next round.

"One or two need a game more than others, so that will happen tonight, but whoever gets picked will go out and give the best they can."