In from the cold duo Martin Reed and Craig Skinner are men on a double mission - to resurrect their stop-start careers and the fortunes of York City.

Playing out of position, Reed won high-praise for his stirring performance in his first start for eight months in Tuesday night's epic 2-2 draw with Darlington.

Skinner, who was on the bench that night, also made his first start of an injury-hit season last Saturday, coming on as a substitute for the final minutes in the 2-2 draw with Torquay.

Now both have told the Evening Press on the eve of City's trip to Rochdale tomorrow they want to confirm their return by staking claims for permanent places.

Luckless winger Skinner, 29, said he was delighted to be back on track after some wretched luck with injuries.

"It has been a long time and there has been some very long days so it is great to be back involved," said the Bury-born wideman.

"I need to be playing games and I need to kick on to get in the first team and stay there - it is the only way to get full fitness."

After damaging his knee ligaments in City's final pre-season friendly against Gainsborough Trinity, Skinner was only two days back into his comeback when he broke down during a November training session.

Indeed, his Bootham Crescent career has pretty much been on hold since his arrival from Wrexham on transfer deadline day ten months ago.

His first footings with the Minstermen were marred by not being fully fit after undergoing an hernia operation while with the Robins.

Skinner admitted he was delighted to have finally taken to the field, if only for the briefest of glimpses against Torquay.

"Even though it was only five minutes at the end it felt really good to be play in the first team again. I have had a nightmare year with injuries.

"Sometimes it goes like that. I have had my fair share of injuries and now I just hope I can stay healthy now.

"I want to get out there and put crosses in, maybe we have been lacking a bit of width this season so if I get a run in the team then I can provide it."

Reed, who faces a stiff challenge from a fit-again Wayne Hall for the left-back spot he filled at Feethams, said "I have been working hard in training so I am just delighted to be back in and I am hopeful I can stay in for Saturday's game.

"Left back is not my favourite position, I prefer centre-back, but as long as I am playing anywhere in defence I am not bothered."

Reed, 22, admitted there was a point when he thought he had played his last game for City.

"The manager had a chat with me and said I might not be back in the team but I thought I would stick at, work hard and hope I would get another chance to prove him wrong."

Reed confirmed he was, as far as he was aware, still on the transfer list but while he was getting first team football he was more than happy to stay.

"Obviously, my immediate aim is to be in the first team and play, as long as I am playing I am happy. It is also a bonus because if other clubs are interested in you then they are more likely to watch you if you are in the first team."

Read Dave Stanford's Rochdale v York City internet match report on the Evening press website www.thisisyork.co.uk on Sunday afternoon.

Rochdale v City Match Points

In 45 past League visits to Spotland, City have won 17 times and drawn seven.

In successive seasons in the 1930s City won at this ground 5-3, 4-1 and 6-3.

Since the Second World War City's biggest win at Rochdale was 3-0 in 1952-3 when the scorers were Billy Fenton (2) and Billy Hughes.

Their last win at Spotland was in 1989-90 when Ian Helliwell netted the only goal of the game.

There has only been one draw in the last 17 League meetings between the clubs at Rochdale (1-1 in 1991-2).

City's last League visit was in April 1993 when they lost their last League game of the season 1-0. They thus missed their chance of an automatic promotion place but subsequently qualified for the play-offs.

A number of players have represented both clubs and these include goalkeepers Graeme Crawford and Gordon Morritt, along with Joe Ashworth, Laurie Calloway, Billy Rudd, Jimmy Seal and Shaun Reid.

Tomorrow's Teams

Rochdale v York City

Division Three (at Spotland)

Rochdale: from Edwards, Evans, Stokes, Hill, Monington, ford, Jones, Atkinson, Peyton, Bettney, Ellis, Lancashire, Bayliss, Platt, Dowe, Hicks, Peake.

York City: from Mimms, Hocking, Jones, Sertori, Reed, Fox, Bullock, Jordan, J Williams, Conlon, Turley, Hall, Howarth, Skinner, M Williams, Dawson

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.