TEENAGE midfielder Byron Webster will miss the start of the season after cracking a bone in his arm during Wednesday's 1-0 friendly victory at Ossett Town.

X-ray results have revealed a crack in the upper area of Webster's arm, which is now in a sling.

The 18-year-old midfielder joins Lev Yalcin, who has a hamstring problem, in the treatment room with trialist James Dudgeon also nursing a similar problem to City's former Turkish youth international.

City boss Billy McEwan said: "Byron will miss the start of the season and we need to be careful now with anybody who has got any knocks or strains as Yalcin is also out at the moment."

McEwan added that last season's top scorer Andy Bishop felt a little bit of soreness after completing his first 45 minutes at Ossett following a knee operation.

The City boss said: "He felt it a little bit and that's why we didn't play him any longer."

A Minstermen XI, mainly consisting of trialists, will travel to Sheffield FC tomorrow.

Former Azerbaijan Under-21 international goalkeeper Farhad Afandiyev will start the match with McEwan keen to have a good look at him and fellow trialists Dave Pounder and Ryan Mallon will also be given longer run-outs than in previous friendlies.

Transfer-listed striker Paul Robinson, meanwhile, might be on his way back to KitKat Crescent after his proposed move to Scottish first division side Ross County hit a snag.

McEwan said: "There's been a last-minute hitch and the signs are not good. I haven't spoken to him or his agent but I've had a phone call saying it might be off."

Updated: 10:27 Friday, July 29, 2005