York City manager Terry Dolan finally got his man today with the news that Mark Bower is back at Bootham Crescent.

After month's of tracking the Bradford City ace, the City chief finally secured the 20-year-old centre-half on an extended loan deal until the end of the season.

It will be Bower's second spell with City after a highly successful three-month loan spell at the end of last season.

Back then, Bower, who was Dolan's first signing when he took to the helm at Bootham Crescent in February, made 15 appearances, scoring once, as City con-ceded just nine goals.

It was that sort of form that prompted Bradford to offer the youngster a new two-year contract on his return to Valley Parade.

Despite signing fresh terms, it was understood Dolan had reached agreement during the summer with then Bradford boss Paul Jewell to bring back Bower for a season-long loan.

However, Jewell's departure to Sheffield Wednesday scuppered those plans and al-though Dolan held further talks with his replacement, Chris Hutchings, Bradford were reluctant to release Bower due to injury problems.

While the Bantams are still suffering from centre-back woes of their own - David Wetherall is out until February - new Bradford boss Jim Jeffries is looking to bring in an experienced centre-back to help steer the club to Premietship safety.

That means, much to City's gain, that Bower is currently surplus to require-ments.

After last Saturday's 3-1 defeat at Kidderminster, Dolan had made it clear he was desperate to bring in at least one new centre-back.

So far this season the City chief has seen club captain Peter Swan retire, Gary Hobson ruled-out after knee surgery and Chris Fairclough's comeback hampered by calf problems.

To make matters worse, Mark Sertori was ruled-out of Saturday's trip to Agg-borough with a calf-strain too.

As reported in yesterday's Evening Press, City's loan quota is full with strikers Neil Tarrant and Chris Iwelumo currently playing their trade at Bootham Crescent.

However, City have been able to get Bower due to a clause which allows clubs to draft in a player under the age of 23 on a long-term loan deal.