YORK City have signed trialist trio Nathan Peat, Joe O'Neill and Ashley Winn.

The triple swoop takes manager Billy McEwan's summer signing tally to six following the earlier arrivals of Mark Hotte, Clayton Donaldson and Mark Convery.

Former Hull City and Lincoln left-back Peat and ex-Preston and Bury striker O'Neill have both featured prominently in City's programme of pre-season friendlies.

Winn, 19, was invited to train with the Minstermen at the beginning of July but, after impressing at Wigginton Road and in a behind-closed-doors friendly with Doncaster Rovers, picked up an injury but is now fit again and was expected to play a part in today's match at Sheffield FC.

McEwan also revealed that he is currently talking to three centre backs with the intention of signing one of them next week.

Full-back Peat, 22, increases McEwan's left-sided options with Dave Merris, Bryan Stewart, Darren Dunning and Stephen Baynes already on the Minstermen books.

City boss McEwan said: "Peat's very comfortable on the ball and will give us competition in that position. He has good experience at League level with a successful Lincoln team and has trained hard since coming here.

"He wasn't the fittest when he first came as he missed the first two weeks but he's knuckled down and got on with the work."

O'Neill, 22, has joined City after McEwan received glowing references from previous club Preston North End, who are managed by fellow Scotsman Billy Davies.

McEwan said: "He had a good apprenticeship at Preston for four years and his appetite for work is second to none. He wants to be a player and, technically, he's a good footballer, whose ability to link up play has impressed me.

"I've spoken to the Preston people and he's come with a good character reference from them."

Winn first played as a trialist for City reserves at the end of last season after being released by Oldham Athletic.

"He's a young boy who has got potential but he's been unlucky with injury as he was flying when he arrived here in pre-season," McEwan said.

The City boss added: "Things are beginning to take shape now and I am hopeful of bringing in a centre back next week. I am currently speaking to three of them."

City were at Sheffield FC today and entertain Sheffield Wednesday at KitKat Crescent on Monday (7.45pm kick-off).

Updated: 08:59 Saturday, July 30, 2005