YORK City vice-captain Nathan Peat took painkillers in a desperate attempt to turn out for the club despite suffering a fractured leg.

Peat actually played through the pain for the first team and set up a goal for Andy Bishop in the 4-0 FA Cup victory over Gainsborough Trinity in October.

He also made a couple of reserve appearances with the injury after doctors at Hull Hospital did not diagnose the problem and a later MRI scan also failed to detect any damage.

Peat was originally told he had suffered deep bone bruising when he was accidentally kicked by team-mate Lev Yalcin in a training session at the beginning of September.

The former Hull City left-back returned six weeks later to face Gainsborough but experienced pain in the same area of his calf.

At the time, the 23-year-old defender put it down to the bruising flaring up again because of a kick but, when he suffered the same problem in a reserve match against Darlington, he sought a second opinion.

A specialist in York then diagnosed the fracture and recommended a four-week rest.

Peat said: "I remember saying to Colin Walker (reserve team manager) after I had been injured on the Monday that I would be ready for Saturday because I thought it was only a dead calf. As it turned out, I played with a fractured leg and was taking a couple of painkillers to get through every training session.

"I was that desperate to play I would have done anything but it was a bit of a wake-up call when I felt it again against Darlington and, even though the specialist in York told me it was a fracture, it got my hopes up when he said some of the healing had already taken place and that I would only be out for three to four weeks."

Peat was given a bruising welcome back to action during the midweek 5-0 North Riding Senior Cup reserve victory over uncompromising amateurs Teesside Athletic. The full-back completed 70 minutes but admitted he had to curb his natural competitive instinct.

He said: "A lad came through the back of me and I felt no reaction to the injury whatsoever. In fact, there were a couple of tackles in the game from one player that, if I had not been coming back from injury, I would have probably gone for him.

"I backed out a little bit because it was a reserve game and I did not want to be over-committed because I have broken down before. I think that's all they had because they couldn't play football. They tried to kick us because they knew that was the only way they could win."

Peat was expecting to be named on the bench for this afternoon's Conference clash at Crawley Town and believes he could be ready for a start within a week.

He said: "I felt quite strong after the reserve game and want to be pushing for a starting place next week. I've been doing a lot of work with Jeff Miller (physio) while I've been out and am a naturally fit person anyway.

"Hopefully, in a week's time I will be fit enough to play. You only get fit by playing games and it's up to the gaffer whether he throws me in at the deep end or holds me back."

New Brass loan

YORK City defender Chris Brass has extended his loan at Southport for a second month.

City's former player-boss, 30, is set to leave KitKat Crescent on a permanent basis, but with a settlement on his current contract yet to be resolved, he has renewed his loan deal with the Conference strugglers.

Updated: 09:52 Saturday, January 07, 2006