YORK City manager Nigel Worthington has welcomed a ten-match uninterrupted run of games for stalwart defender David McGurk.

The 31-year-old centre back has not managed double figures in terms of successive starts since September 2011 but reached the landmark with another 90 minutes during Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Bristol Rovers.

Knee, calf, throat and hamstring problems have previously limited McGurk’s regular participation in the City side but he has been a permanent fixture now for two months since coming on as a 14th-minute substitute for the unfortunate Dan Parslow after he suffered cruciate ligament damage at Southend.

Two-time Press Player of the Year winner McGurk has now played 331 matches for the Minstermen, which places him just seven behind 15th-placed George Howe in the club’s all-time appearances list.

On being able to call on McGurk’s services since mid-November, Worthington said: “It’s good to have players fit and that’s held Dave back every so often but he’s had a little run of games now and is going quite nicely.“He’s been solid and done things simple. We have competition for places in that position now with John McCombe and Keith Lowe coming in and that keeps everybody on their toes.”

With Saturday’s trip to Hartlepool being followed by a midweek home match with Chesterfield and a visit to the Spireites’ fellow promotion hopefuls Fleetwood four days later, the City boss will also be looking for any signs of fatigue in any of his players with squad rotation a potential option.

Worthington added: “Everybody has got to keep performing and it’s a squad game.

“Sometimes, you have to leave an individual out and, with three games in seven days next week, some people might get a rest and others get a game to freshen things up.”