York City's new striker Martin Carruthers has designs on a front-line place despite the in-form partnership of Richard Cresswell and Rodney Rowe.

Goal! Martin Carruthers (left) celebrates after scoring for Peterborough

The 26-year-old marksman joined City today on a month's loan from Third Division Peterborough United, but the immediate goal for the Posh man is to seal a permanent deal.

And while he knows he will start on the substitutes' bench against visitors Oldham Athletic tomorrow he is determined to prove to manager Alan Little that he is an asset worth seizing.

Said Nottingham-born Carruthers: "There are 45 professionals at Peterborough. I'm one of seven or eight forwards.

"The manager (Barry Fry) is a players' man and because I am out of contract in the summer he said if he felt there was a chance for me to secure a move then I can go.

"When I heard Alan Little was interested in me I was keen to come to York. I know I am not going to be in the starting-line-up, but I have a month to impress the manager and then we can take it from there."

Carruthers, who started his career with Aston Villa before respective £150,000 moves to Stoke City in 1993 and then Peterborough in 19970, was aware of the Cresswell-Rowe partnership and even more of Cresswell's impact this season.

"There's a lot of talk about Cresswell. We're always reading about interest in him and I think it's only going to be a matter of time before somebody snaps him up."

A self-confessed Nottingham Forest fan Carruthers described his assets as pace and having a good eye fore goal. Last season he was second top scorer for Peterborough, his 18-goal tally only beaten by veteran Northern Ireland international Jimmy Quinn.

"A striker is only happy when he is scoring goals and last season was good for me," he said.

"This year started off well with three goals early on, but then niggling injuries to an ankle and hamstring kept me out. I've only been back playing for the last two or three games."

The capture of Carruthers ends a chase that took initial steps six years ago for City boss Little.

He was first interested in the pacey front-man shortly after succeeding John Ward when Carruthers was about to be released from his first club Aston Villa.

However, a loan move fell through and soon after Carruthers joined Stoke.

Said Little: "You are always on the lookout for goal-scorers and I feel Carruthers could do a job for us. The deal will be for a month on loan and then possibly a long-term move."

Confirming an unchanged side from the one which started against Reading, Little said the new man would be on the bench, where the battle will hot up for the other two places as he tries to accommodate the fit-again Alan Pouton, Neil Thompson and Steve Agnew.

"They've earned the right to have another go and I believe they will break down Oldham and get the win that is all that is missing from the way we have been playing lately," ventured the City boss.

"If the team performs then the senior players will have to wait a bit longer. If they don't then the likes of Pouton, Agnew, and Thompson will be back."

Though struggling in the bottom half of the table Oldham boast one of the grittiest away records.

Their midweek 1-0 defeat by FA Cup aces Fulham 1-0 was their first on the road in six games and that after a breakdown, which delayed the kick-off by more than 40 minutes.

While awaiting rescue transport after their team coach broke down the Latics players were forced to warm up on the grass verge of the A4.

Stopper Paul Mardon, on loan from First Division West Brom, is out through suspension after collecting two cautions in his first two games for the Latics to add to three bookings he picked up while with the Baggies.

Ex-Leicester and Huddersfield defender Paul Reid, who has completed a one-match ban, will come in at left wing-back with Andy Holt moving across to centre-back.After their FA Youth Cup battling draw at Ipswich Town City's intermediates play Darlington at York University the North-East Conference.

Lincoln date switch

York City's clash at Lincoln City has been moved for a second time.

Originally switched from Saturday March 27 to Friday, March 26 to avoid a clash with England's Euro qualifier against Poland, the game has now been put back to Sunday, March 28, ko 3pm.

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