Revolution is in the air at York City as a central spark takes hold.

City opened their pre-season campaign at Pocklington favouring the three-man centre-back cordon that they flirted with at the tail end of last season.

As manager Alan Little gamely searches for a right-winger to step into Reading-bound Graeme Murty's boots, he revealed that City's immediate future may hinge on the triple axis.

And the relatively-new system to City will likely filter through to the reserve and youth teams to ensure familiarity through the ranks.

Explained Little: "For the past three to four years I have been pretty insistent that all the way through the club we play 4-4-2.

"But we have got to move with the times and I believe players have to be able to adapt to other ways of playing.

"We tried three centre-backs last season and in the main it worked. Currently it's a system I will follow as I have the personnel to do it and they are very comfortable with it.

"And with having no natural winger then it's the way to go."

Besides the first-team squad adopting the system talks have been held with the club's youth team coaches to go the same way. "It's important that at the age of 15 and 16 youngsters are able to cope with a different system."

Little retains the new formation for tonight's visit to Spennymoor.

The City boss has selected a different line-up for each half of the friendly fixture as part of a gradual increase in the players' pre-season work load.

"The players will increase their match fitness. There will be two teams, a starting team and team to start the second half," he said.

"At the weekend both teams will get 90 minutes and that is the way we do it in pre-season. They are two quite strong teams picked at random."

Previous experience of trips to Spennymoor leads Little to believe tonight's game will be a stern examination for his side.

He added: "I don't think it will be easy. My experience going there is that it is not an easy task, they are tough and they want to win. They look for scalps.

"I have been up there before with John Bird and York City a few years ago and it will be a test."

Defender Martin Reed, who missed the Pocklington opener with a chest infection, is fit to play.

Little's quest for a winger was still going on as he prepared his men for tonight's match.

"It's a question of checking the lists and seeing who might be available, but it's just as important to make sure all the lads we have got at the moment are getting in the right sort of games and preparation for the start of the new season."

City first half: Warrington, McMillan, Jones, Thompson, Dawson, Agnew, Tinkler, Himsworth, Hall, Woods, Rowe.

City second half: Boswell, Reed, Sharples, Rennison, Fox, Pouton, Jones, Garrett, Prendergast, Tolson, Cresswell.

Meanwhile, Goalkeeper Mark Samways, who was releasd by City, has signed for Third Division Darlington.The friendly clash against Middlesbrough - promoted back to the Premiership - on August 29, which forms Little's testimonial may net an even greater international influence.

Besides reports linking them with ex-Manchester United and Everton winger Andrei Kanchelskis in a 'cut-price' £4million deal from Fiorentina, Boro boss Bryan Robson is apparently on the trail of England striker Teddy Sheringham in a proposed £3 million move.

City's Football In the Community summer course, including a trip to Manchester United's Old Trafford citadel on August 12 is now fully-booked.

But there are still places available on the courses from July 27-31, featuring a trip to Leeds United, and August 24-28 including a trip to Liverpool's Anfield arena. Contact FTIC liaison officer Paul Olsson tel York 613017.

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