YORK City loan signing David McGurk is not ruling out a season-long stay at KitKat Crescent if his first-team opportunities do not improve at Darlington.

McGurk has joined the Minstermen in a six-month deal and is due to return to the Williamson Motors Stadium at the end of January.

Darlington boss David Hodgson has, meanwhile, recruited Dutch defender Shelton Martis for the same period, leaving McGurk as the fourth choice centre-back at the League Two club.

And the 22-year-old defender has pointed out that he would prefer to carry on playing Conference first-team football if a New Year return to Darlington signals another spell on the sidelines.

He said: "I know I will have to earn my place and play well to keep it but the main reason I have come to York is because I am desperate to play first-team football. I'm tired of playing for the reserves because it's not the same at all.

"I've been in and out of the Darlington team for two or three years and probably the best time I had last season was here when I was playing regularly.

"I want to be playing first-team football for the six months and, if I then go, I want to leave the club in a good position but, who knows, I might complete the full season yet.

"We will have to see how things progress. I've seen the new Dutch lad play on trial and he was good.

"If I go back to Darlington and I am in exactly the same position, that's not what I want and I will tell the manager I would be happier to stay at York."

McGurk returned to Darlington last autumn after a loan spell with the Minstermen but a knee cartilage injury, which has since been corrected by an operation, restricted him to ten appearances during the remainder of 2004-2005.

Hodgson still deemed the 6ft centre-back worthy of a contract extension but McGurk added: "I got offered a new deal but the manager said I would be behind other defenders.

"I thought if I had a good pre-season I could break into the first team but I did not play in the friendlies and I just couldn't see a way through.

"The team have also changed to a flat back four instead of three centre-backs so, as fourth choice, I would have been struggling to get on the bench."

McGurk has lined up alongside Minstermen summer signing Mark Convery for Darlington over the last four years and believes the 24-year-old midfielder will prove a successful acquisition.

He said: "He's good at getting in positions between the midfield and forwards and can put a good cross in if he's out on the wing or a good through ball for the forwards if he's in the middle.

"I think he would like to score a few goals as well this season and I can imagine him doing well."

McGurk admitted that working with City boss McEwan was a key consideration in his return to KitKat Crescent.

He added: "I spoke to a couple of people before I came here and they told me he's a good manager who I will progress under.

"He's very professional in his approach to the game."

Updated: 10:06 Thursday, August 11, 2005