York City fingers are being crossed that England's call to arms for Richard Cresswell will not rebound on the survival tussle.

The Minstermen are locked in six days of intensive training heading into Sunday's grave showdown with fellow relegation threatened Lincoln City.

It's a tale of two Citys that could have a major say on who will escape the plunge into the basement.

But Cresswell is almost the length of the country away. He is currently training this week with the England under-21s in the bid to figure in Friday night's Euro 2000 qualifier at Southampton's The Dell.

Top scorer Cresswell will rush back north immediately after the Under-21 fixture to try to figure in the final session before Sunday's Sincil Bank set-to.

But caretaker-manager Neil Thompson is aware that vital time will have been lost this week, especially if he considers a more advanced role for new signing Marc Williams alongside the 19-goal Cresswell.

City midfielder Alan Pouton is available again for Sunday's clash after completing a one-match ban. His return could free the impish Williams for the out and out striking role he prefers.

Said Thompson: "Cressie has fully deserved his call-up to England for what he has done for us this season. He is getting his just rewards.

"It's not a complaint, but it's not the ideal time for us as we prepare for Lincoln. We are just keeping our fingers crossed he returns okay."

Cresswell's chances of adding to his historic first cap last month have increased.

Leicester City striker Emile Heskey has withdrawn from the squad after aggravating his back injury in the Worthington Cup Final defeat by Spurs.

The City boss meanwhile was re-doubling his efforts to recruit new faces before Thursday's transfer deadline.

After the £30,000 capture of Williams from Halifax Town and the loan deal bringing ex-Leeds defender Chris Fairclough to City for the rest of the season Thompson ventured that he would want another player in to aid the relegation scrap.

"I am trying to bring someone in and I would presume that it would be a loan deal," he said, adding that his interest in Hull City pair Brian McGinty and Matthew Hocking had cooled.

Thompson also explained that as yet the club had not received offers for any of their players, including the transfer-listed duo of Steve Agnew and Neil Woods, nor the trio due to come out of contract of Pouton, Rodney Rowe and Neil Tolson.

Former captain Tony Barras starred on hid debut for Second Division rivals Reading, where he will see out the rest of the season.Barras came on in the 40th-minute of the Royals' 2-1 win over bottom-placed Wycombe after Andy Bernal was sent off. Observers said the ex-City man was in impressive form.Harrogate-born Andy O'Brien has had to pull out of the England under-21 squad. The Bradford City centre-back has an hamstring injury.

Stapleton linked with City job

FORMER Manchester United and Arsenal striker Frank Stapleton is the latest candidate to be linked with York City.

Stapleton was said to be interested in the job of managing the Minstermen should the post become vacant.

Since his sacking as Bradford City boss in 1994 Stapleton has had a fling managing a side in the revamped North American Soccer League. But it is believed he is anxious to pick up the managerial reins again in England.

However, Neil Thompson's confirmation as player-manager has stalled the flow of applications to City.

Club secretary Keith Usher said that in the immediate aftermath of Alan Little's sacking a rush of bids to succeed were received at Bootham Crescent, though he added that Stapleton was not one of those who had applied.

News of Thompson's 'upgrade' to caretaker boss has prompted the ebb of interest to subside after about 20 applications were received by the Minstermen.

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