York City boss Terry Dolan has made another bid to strengthen his firepower by signing striker Neil Tarrant on a month's loan from Premiership giants Aston Villa.

The Minstermen have netted just ten goals all season - the joint-worst scoring record in Division Three - but Dolan has again shown his attacking aspirations with a second loan signing this month, following winger Kieron Durkin's switch from Macclesfield Town.

Both deals come hot on the heels of striker Alex Mathie's move to Bootham Crescent, though 21-year-old Tarrant could add an extra dimension going forward.

City's assistant boss Adie Shaw told the Evening Press: "He's strong, wins his headers, holds the ball up well and scores goals.

"Myself and Terry Dolan watched him up at Sunderland on Monday (in Villa reserves' 1-1 draw), where he played in midfield, so he can play there too.

"But we will be looking to use him as a striker, a target man, someone who puts the ball in the back of the net."

Tarrant - whose signing was revealed on the Evening Press website www.thisisyork.co.uk yesterday - cost Villa £250,000 when they bought him in April 1999 from Scottish League side Ross County.

He had scored an impressive 20 goals, five from the penalty spot, in 44 games and helped the Victoria Park side win the Third Division title, but he has been unable to claim a first-team berth at Villa Park.

Born in Darlington, he was a trainee at his home town club but was released from Feethams aged 16 before having short spells at both Auxerre, in France, and Shamrock Rovers, in the Irish League, where he played only twice prior to his switch to Ross County.

Standing at 6ft 1in, Tarrant - described as a powerful player with a good turn of pace - can also operate as an attacking midfielder, and moved to Villa after impressing boss John Gregory while on trial at the Birmingham club.

He joined Ayr United on loan in late 1999, and played alongside former City favourite Andy McMillan in a season when the Somerset Park club reached the Scottish Cup semi-final.

City's youngsters breezed into the second round of the FA Youth Cup last night with a 4-0 first round win at Mansfield Town.

Scott Emerson bagged a brace with Peter Vasey and Marvin Boyce also scoring.

Assistant youth coach Brian Neaves said: "We were 1-0 up at half-time though it should have been more as we missed a few chances, but we got another goal five minutes into the second half and never looked back."