Safety assured, injury-hit York City may adopt a bold front-line against cash-awash Fulham.

With City's injury room crammed with no less than eight casualties, attack is set to be the most potent form of defence simply because City may have more out and out forwards fit for action.

As feared winger Graeme Murty's season is over, the winger due to have surgery tomorrow on the hernia problem that has dogged him this past month.

Captain Tony Barras, meanwhile, is out of the Fulham visit. He has been told to do nothing for the next fortnight in the hope that complete rest will enable him to beat the groin problem that surfaced to such distressing impact in the 3-2 defeat at Preston.

Winger Paul Stephenson (knee) and Alan Pouton (thigh) are also on the sick-list alongside strike pair Marco Gabbiadini and Neil Tolson, and defenders Wayne Hall and Gary Himsworth, the latter possibly available for a reserves' run-out in 10 days.

Gabbiadini, however, is hopeful of returning to duty against Fulham after his nine-day fitness plan to strengthen his damaged ankle.

His re-appearance could signal a switch in emphasis.

If Stephenson is ruled out then City will be well short of recognised widemen, which could then prompt a three-pronged attack against the Cottagers.

Said City boss Alan Little: "Gabbiadini was back running yesterday. If he keeps improving then his return for Fulham would be a major lift.

"It might help to go for a more all-out attack as it's in that department where we have the likes of Gabbiadini, Rodney Rowe, Gary Bull, Richard Cresswell and Jonathan Greening."

City's sixth striker Neil Tolson is expected to get a full 90 minutes in the reserves' trip to Wrexham tomorrow night when City are likely to field a largely inexperienced team.

"I've got to protect what players I have left to me," added Little.

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