Goalkeeper Alan Fettis is looking to smash a York City jinx as the Minstermen head into the unknown tomorow.

ON THE BALL: York City goalkeeper Alan Fettis, looking for a third successive clean sheet

After four blank returns from his last five appearances, Fettis will be chasing a hat-trick of consecutive shut outs for City's first Football League encounter at Cheltenham's Whaddon Road.

Not since November 1997 and the shot-stopping skills of Darlington's current number one, Mark Samways, have City gone three games without conceding a goal.

But that run included a 4-0 triumph over Southport in the FA Cup.

The last City 'keeper to record three successive League shut-outs was Tim Clarke, now at Kidderminster Harriers, at the start of the 1996 season.

Fettis joked knowing he was within 90 minutes of breaking a near-four year City hoodoo probably signalled the kiss of death for his impressive run of form.

But he added: "I just take every game as it comes and go into every game looking not to concede a goal.

"It might be a bit of a clich but if as a goalkeeper you keep a clean sheet then you can consider it a job well done.

"If I do that tomorrow then great and if we win then even better but I am just happy to be playing regularly and getting games under my belt."

Since the Northern Ireland international landed at Bootham Crescent eight games ago, City have gone seven games unbeaten.

But the modest 29-year-old admitted such is City's upturn in fortunes he has had few chances to shine.

"To be honest with you I haven't had a lot to do because the team has been performing magnificently.

"The position York were in when I came to the club I expected to be overworked but that hasn't been the case.

"We have got a run together which helps confidence and everyone is playing together and playing well."

When he arrived at City from Blackburn Rovers at the beginning of March, Fettis conceded he was looking to use his Bootham Crescent stint as a launch pad to resurrect his international career.

And while he was happy to commit himself to York until the end of the season he admitted his future beyond that was less clear.

Speaking today, Fettis offered the City faithful hope he could be willing to stay after his current deal runs out.

"Never say never," said the former Nottingham Forest and Hull City ace, who won the last of his 25 Northern Ireland caps in November 1998.

"I am enjoying myself here at York, everyone at the club has made me feel very welcome, and everything is going really well.

"And when results go well you enjoy it even more.

"I obviously want to get my international career on track and play at the highest level but as they say beggars can't be chosers and if I stay at York it is not something that would bother me at all."

Despite his form and a return to first team action, Fettis admitted he had yet to hear from new Northern Ireland boss Sammy McIlroy, who will announce a squad for a friendly against Hungary in Belfast on April 26 next Tuesday.

"But York City and Terry Dolan have given me the opportunity to play regular football again and I am grateful for that first and foremost," he said.

Fettis was put through his paces this week by goalkeeping legend and York's part-time shot-stopper coach Neville Southall at City's Wigginton road training ground.

And Fettis admitted the Southall factor was having an important effect on his form.

"The man is a legend in my eyes and during his Everton days he was simply fantastic. He works us really hard because that is how he achieved so much and he expects the same in return."

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