YORK City boss Colin Walker has no regrets about loaning striker Richard Brodie out to Barrow despite losing Craig Farrell for tonight’s FA Cup replay at Mansfield.

Former Exeter forward Farrell limped out of Saturday’s fourth qualifying round meeting with the Stags after suffering a groin strain at KitKat Crescent.

Brodie, meanwhile, was busy bagging a brace during Barrow’s 4-0 triumph at Tamworth to secure a first round trip to Eastbourne for the Cumbrians.

Farrell’s problem is expected to clear up in time for him to feature at Oxford on Saturday, while Walker, pictured below, is still hoping to sign a new striker ahead of the Kassam Stadium Blue Square Premier clash.

For tonight’s Field Mill fixture, however, City will only have Daniel McBreen, Onome Sodje and Adam Boyes in contention for forward berths.

Sodje’s 66-minute substitute outing also represented his first senior action in a month following a hamstring injury while 17-year-old Boyes is yet to start a first-team game.

Walker said: “Richard has gone out on loan and Faz has been injured, but that’s what happens in football – there’s not a lot I can do about that. Richard got two goals on Saturday and that was the reason for letting him go there.

“He trained with us yesterday and looked bright and breezy. If he continues scoring, we will be in a win-win situation because it won’t be long before he’s back here then.

“I’m also actively looking to bring a striker in still.”

Walker added the first round draw had handed Mansfield a “massive incentive” during tonight’s tie with the winners drawn away to the Stags’ neighbours Chesterfield.

He said: “It’s their big derby so it will be a massive incentive for them, but we’ve got to concentrate on what we do. It would be league opposition for us, which would be tough, but we’ve got to worry about getting past Mansfield first.”

With City and Mansfield having already drawn twice this season, Walker had his players taking penalties at their Wigginton Road training ground yesterday, knowing that the tie will be settled by s shoot-out if the scores are level after extra time.

About the session, he added: “We practiced them for about 20 minutes at the end of training, although I don’t think you can really recreate that situation. Stuart Pearce even tried it at the end of a game in front of 20,000 fans but it’s still not the same.

“What we will be looking for if it comes to that – and I’m hoping it doesn’t – are men at the end of the game.

“We could designate five takers, but they’ve still got to be on the pitch at the end of two hours of football so all 18 of them have had a go and it was also good practice for Michael Ingham.”

Set-piece specialist Ben Purkiss could be one candidate and the former Gainsborough Trinity right-back has been placed on standby for England ‘C’s trip to Italy on November 12, as revealed on our website thepress.co.uk yesterday.

About that recognition, Walker said: “Ben has been very consistent over the last five games and that’s what I think has caught the eyes of the selectors.”

Reserve defender Josh Radcliffe, meanwhile, has been loaned out to UniBond League first division strugglers Harrogate Railway.