McEwan wants Lee to stay on

Andrews' current one-month deal expires tomorrow but McEwan has asked Carlisle boss Paul Simpson whether the 22-year-old centre-back can prolong his stay at KitKat Crescent.

Carlisle have lost just one of their last 13 League Two matches and are currently lying third in the table.

The 6ft defender has only featured twice in the Cumbrians' first team this season - back in August - despite making 121 appearances for his home-town club.

Andrews has impressed in recent matches as an emergency right back at KitKat Crescent and, should he not be required by Carlisle, McEwan is keen to keep him beyond the closure of the transfer window on January 31.

The City boss said: "I'm talking to Carlisle about Lee. He's come in and filled in for Jamie Price because of Graeme Law's injury and done very well.

"I've been pleased for him because he's a nice kid. We are looking to extend his loan and are waiting to see what Paul Simpson wants to do."

Should Carlisle refuse a loan extension, Andrews is still expected to play tonight against a Stevenage team who have suffered from travel sickness this season.

City's fellow play-off hopefuls, who are two points and one place ahead of McEwan's men, have only won two away matches in the Conference this season.

But McEwan is paying little attention to that record, saying: "You can look at statistics but they don't win football matches.

Tonight's squads

Nationwide Conference

York City v Stevenage

(at KitKat Crescent)

City (probable): Porter, Andrews, Dudgeon, Hotte, Merris, Convery, Panther, Dunning, Bishop, O'Neill, Donaldson. Subs: Stockdale, Stewart, Webster, Bertos, Horwood.

Stevenage (probable): Julian, Warner, Quinn, Laker, Perpetuini, Nurse, Maamria, Bulman, Boyd, Stamp, Louis. Subs: Gore, Williams, Brough, Berquez, Henry.

Referee: Colin Harwood (Greater Manchester).

Kick-off: 7.45pm

Updated: 09:05 Tuesday, January 10, 2006