EVER-PRESENT midfielder Mark Convery has been told to step up his fitness levels by York City manager Billy McEwan.

Convery was a surprise selection in the reserves side that beat Scarborough 4-2 at KitKat Crescent on Wednesday and McEwan, who has substituted the former Darlington player nine times in Conference fixtures this season, clearly feels his stamina could improve.

The 24-year-old is one of six City players that have started every league and cup game this season, along with Chris Porter, Jamie Price, David McGurk, Darren Dunning and Clayton Donaldson.

But David Stockdale is expected to be preferred to Porter in goal for tomorrow's trip to Hereford and Convery, if picked, will be out to prove he should keep his starting place in the team.

Speaking about the reason behind Convery's reserve team appearance, McEwan said: "He's got to get a bit fitter. He needs a bit more match fitness."

The City boss has recalled Mark Hotte to the squad for Edgar Street after seven weeks on the sidelines with a fractured shoulder.

Club captain Hotte returned to action with 90 minutes for the reserves and McEwan said: "He played well and might come into contention. We will assess him tomorrow but he will travel to Hereford as part of the squad."

But Emmanuel Panther will not make the trip after his comeback from ankle ligament damage was interrupted by a return back to Scotland for family reasons although he is now back in North Yorkshire.

McEwan is, however, keeping tight-lipped about who will be City's goalkeeper in Shropshire after Porter was replaced by Stockdale at half-time in the club's last outing against Morecambe.

He said: "I don't know which 'keeper I will pick and have been watching them closely in training before I make the decision."

The reserves' line-up against Scarborough also offered no clues as to McEwan's intentions with Arran Reid playing against the Seadogs although Porter had been placed on standby as the teenage stopper had been carrying a knock before the game.

"It was nice to give Arran a game because he's been unlucky not to play and his attitude has been very good," McEwan added.

The City manager also confirmed that he is keeping a keen interest in the progress of youth-team striker Alex Rhodes, who impressed during a 70-minute run-out in the reserves' victory.

McEwan said: "He's been training with the first team ever since the first day he signed from us (from York College) this season. He's a young lad who I've been pleased with, as I am a number of them."

Tomorrow's match will see City pit their skills against one of their fellow play-off contenders again with Hereford, like Morecambe before them, level on points with McEwan's men going into the match.

The Minstermen boss watched the Bulls exit the FA Cup 2-0 at home to Stockport last weekend but said: "It will be a tough game. They are a good footballing side and it has the makings of a good match. If we allow them to play, they will cause us problems."

York City juniors travel to Lincoln City on Saturday, kick-off noon.

Updated: 10:19 Friday, December 09, 2005