Sprightly Martin Garratt - like a 'steam-train' according to manager Alan Little - is to prowl York City's central station.

On the right track: Martin Garratt gets on the ball as he goes on another typical driving run from midfield for City

Despite his relative inexperience Garratt will deputise for the suspended Mark Tinkler in the heart of midfield for tomorrow's clash against Reading.

With Alan Pouton deemed not quite ready for the fray after his three-month lay-off through injury and Steve Agnew still plagued by thigh damage, Garratt gets the vote as the mobile middle-man alongside Scott Jordan.

The 18-year-old goes into the crucial encounter, praise ringing in his ears from the City manager Alan Little.

"He's like a stream train. He just keeps going. His ability to get about the park has been amazing," the manager enthused.

"He's never flagged, either in a match or in training. He's on a high momentum all the time."

That dash and go will be important for City if they are to 'get among' the Reading midfield trio, who like to shuffle the ball around, ventured Little.

"They like to pass and play so we need to have someone in there to shake them up a bit. Martin has the mobility and stickability."

While it has not guaranteed a start, Pouton's 20 minutes for the reserves in midweek may be enough to earn a place on the bench. That could also be the destination for player-coach Neil Thompson, who enjoyed his first outing in the same 5-0 Pontin's win over Scarborough.

Said Little: "They've both been out a long time and I won't want to mess it all up just for the sake of one match. But while I'm not counting on them tomorrow I have not yet counted them out of being among the substitutes."

Aware that City are possible candidates for a rebound rap from Reading in the wake of their shock 6-0 crash at home to Bristol Rovers, the hosts too are in dire need of boomeranging back from their setback at Gillingham.

And that about-turn could be prompted by the pacey Richard Cresswell-Rodney Rowe axis, insisted the City leader.

"Reading may feel it's backlash time," said Little. "But we have got to utilise the fear that they may concede again.

"Our strength at the moment is with Rowe and Cresswell and their ability to stretch defences. Defenders do not like having to handle players with that sort of pace."

Royals' manager Tommy Burns said it was time to atone for the humiliating second-half collapse against Bristol Rovers last week when his team had 'let themselves and the fans down'.

He pointed to mitigating circumstances in having to field a makeshift defence.

Tomorrow the visitors will be boosted by the return from suspensions of former Manchester United duo Chris Casper and Grant Brebner.

Casper, a £300,000 recruit shortly before Christmas, is the main organiser of the five-man defence operated by Reading, while Brebner, a Scottish under-21 cap who joined in a £350,000 deal in summer, is the Royals' second-top scorer this term with eight goals.

There is a chance Reading will also welcome back vigorous defender Linvoy Primus, who missed last week's embarrassment with an ankle injury.York City intermediates, seeking their first North-east League Conference win in two months, play host to Hartlepool United tomorrow, ko 11am.

Backlash warning from old boy Murty

Former York City winger Graeme Murty has warned his team-mates they could feel the sting of a backlash.

His current club Reading go into tomorrow's clash at Bootham Crescent smarting from the six-goal second-half stunner they suffered at home to Bristol Rovers a week before.

Murty cautioned that City could pay for that 6-0 hiding inflicted by Rovers.

There appeared little danger when the rivals were deadlocked after a goal-less first-half at Reading's Madejski Stadium.

But then visiting Pirates plundered six goals without reply, including four from livewire and former City target Jamie Cureton.

For Murty the home humbling echoed bad memories of City's 7-2 defeat at Burnley last season.

"It was 0-0 at half-time and it was very average. There was nothing in between the two sides.

"Then we went to pieces. It was just like Burnley. Everything they hit flew into the net.

"It was not as if you could blame our goalkeeper. He had a brilliant game. They were all good goals. It was just one of those days."

However, Murty revealed that Reading boss Tommy Burns said his men had to take the defeat on the chin and bounce right back.

"There might be a backlash. City will have to come out sharp as I think we will be flying."

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