RORY WATSON has been ruled out for York City's final three matches of the Vanarama National League season.

After pulling out of York's 1-1 draw with FC Halifax Town on Tuesday night in pre-match warm-up, manager Adam Hinshelwood has confirmed that Watson will be an absentee for the remainder of the campaign.

Watson's contract looks set to expire in the Summer, with Hinshelwood preparing to open talks over an extension with the goalkeeper, after an impressive run of games under the City boss.

The injury did force the recall of young goalkeeper Maison Campbell from Scunthorpe United, who will now be part of the first-team squad.

“He’s going to go for a scan, it probably won’t be until the early stages of next week now," Hinshelwood explained.

"We’ll know the full extent of the damage either way, but it’s probably not looking likely that we will see Rory between now and the end-of-the-season.

"It’s a massive blow for the lads, because he has waited for his opportunity, come in and took it and has done really well. I am gutted for him, what a great character he is.

"He’s someone that knows when to have a laugh and a joke, but he’s also someone who knows when to have a serious training time and demands the best out of the players.

"I’ve been really happy and encouraged by what I have seen from Rory, as a player and a person.

“Since I’ve come in he’s been excellent, so it’s a conversation [contract talks] we will have to have at a later date.


READ MORE


“I’ve only seen bits [of Campbell], we did all of our homework on all of the players when we first got the job.

"We’ve seen bits and pieces, it’s going to be a good player to have in the mix.

"We’ve been very fortunate to have two good goalkeepers, Maison has now come back and will maintain that."

Hinhselwood also confirmed that David Stockdale wasn't being considered as an option, having not yet trained under the new City management team.

“No, we haven’t seen him in training," Hinshelwood confirmed to the Press.

"It would be wrong for him to come back in training, we’ve been here for four weeks now and he hasn’t trained at all, so it would be wrong.

"We’re focusing on other areas of the club, and it would be wrong to get him back in for the last bit.

"We’ve got full faith in the goalkeepers we have got at the club."