One-time York City flier Graeme Murty admits the "massive carrot" of an FA Cup date with the Minstermen is spurring him on to a Reading recall.

The 26-year-old has suffered a luckless time with injuries since his £700,000 switch from Bootham Crescent to the Madjeski Stadium in July 1998.

Adding to his frustration is that while he can currently boast a clean bill of health he cannot claim a starting role such has been Reading's promising start to their Division Two campaign.

In such circumstances, Murty admits Reading's second round FA Cup showdown with City next month is a perfectly timed-fillip, an added incentive to work his way into Royals' manager Alan Pardew's starting plans.

"It is a massive carrot for me," Murty told the Evening Press.

"I cannot imagine there being a bigger draw for me personally.

"I just started laughing when I heard the draw. My girlfriend is from York and she couldn't stop laughing either.

"When I heard York was winning (against Radcliffe Borough) I was chuffed.

"I am getting fit and so hopefully I will be in with a chance for the game."

However, there was more frustration for Murty last Saturday when Reading's Second Division game at Bournemouth was called off. He will be hoping for a slice of the action this weekend when the Royals entertain Cambridge United.

Murty, who made 117 appearance for City, has suffered set-back after set-back since his move south.

He was unable to make his debut for six months due to injury and was then just nine games into his Reading career when he dislocated his ankle and was forced to go under the surgeon's knife.

He returned to fitness this time last year before a training accident left him with damaged knee ligaments and he was sidelined again.

He was in and out of the team during the last few weeks of the season and has made only one start this season after being laid low by a thigh strain.

"It has just been niggly things of late really. Just when I get myself fully-fit I get something to knock-me back, " he said.

"I'm fit now but I'm on the bench and cannot get in the team because we are doing so well.

"It's hard but you have just got to give credit to the lads who are doing so well.

"We have a great squad who are performing really well and scoring lots of goals."

Murty believes City will provide a stern test and admits Reading have been unable to repeat their stunning home form away from the Madjeski Stadium.

While the Royals have lost just once at home this season and banged in a staggering 29 goals they have been beaten five times on their travels and scored just eight.

"We haven't done too bad in Yorkshire this year - we beat Rotherham - but we just love playing at home," he reasoned.

"We seem to open up and score really freely. It is something we have got to do in our away games, perform freely."

Murty admitted he was looking forward to hooking up with some familiar faces like Scott Jordan, Martin Reed and Wayne Hall next month and former Royals' Neville Stamp and Graham Potter, who had a spell on loan with the Division Two outfit.