LANCASTER City new boy John Whittaker looks set to make his debut for the buoyant Blues in today's game. Whittaker has come to Lancaster as part of a swap deal that has taken City striker Jimmy Bell in the opposite direction to Manchester club Ashton United after less than a season with the Blues.

Described as a strong midfield player, Whittaker is favourite to start today as a replacement for the injured Stuart Gelling who had an exploratory operation on his injured knee this week.

City assistant manager Mick Hoyle said this week: "John is going to bring strength to the squad. He is a strong midfield player who can also play up front and score goals.

"Our midfield isn't weak so bringing him here is more of a back-up than anything else. Players want to come to Lancaster City at the moment so when a player like John Whittaker becomes available we are always interested.

"Obviously we are in a good position at the moment but we want to make sure that if things do go wrong, as they did last season, we have the back-up to put things right.

"We didn't particularly want to lose Jimmy Bell and he didn't really want to go but Ashton United wanted him and he thought he could get regular first team football there. He has done well for us and we wish him good luck."

Bell scored nine goals for City in a total of 34 games having signed from Fleetwood in the summer.

Graham Yeo, who has struggled to hold down a regular place in the City team this season, has joined local rivals Netherfield for a small fee.

There should be plenty of goals this afternoon with Worksop boasting the best scoring record in the league but also the second worse defensive one.

Mick Hoyle added: "It will be another tough game. Worksop are leaking goals but they are very capable of scoring a few as well."

Tickets are still available for Lancaster City's Sportsman's Dinner to be held at Lancaster Town Hall on Monday February 12.

The boys of '66 Alan Ball, Gordon Banks and Roger Hunt will be the special guests at the event. Tickets, costing £20, are available from Mick Hoyle at the club on (01524) 382238.

Lancaster City's re-arranged Unibond League game away at Warrington will now be played next Tuesday, February 6.

City's postponed league fixture at Leigh RMI has been pencilled in for the following Wednesday, February 14. No date has yet been announced for cancelled fixture with Netherfield.

The representative match between the Unibond League and the English Universities due to be played at Giant Axe on Monday January 29 was cancelled because of player unavailability due to cup commitments.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.