Blair expected to play despite bizarre injury

The Minstermen are handily placed in mid-table to make a concerted push up the League Two table after collecting 15 points from their opening 12 games.

Today, Dagenham & Redbridge are the visitors to Bootham Crescent as York look to return to winning ways on home soil.

Blair will be in the side despite suffering a bizarre knee wound that required stitches in training this week.

Last season’s goalscoring hero at Wembley collided with one of the mannequins that the club use as an aid to practising free-kick routines.

Manager Gary Mills expects his side to continue their encouraging start to life back in League Two.

He said: “We have only had a dozen games but I feel the players are getting better and better. I am delighted with the points total we have already.

“We thoroughly deserve the 15 we have earned. We are holding our own and doing well. The key now is to maintain the consistency.

“We have had a look at what the league is about now.

“If we stay clear of injuries and keep playing like we do, I think we will be okay.

“We showed (last week) against Bradford that we never lay down. Even when their equaliser went in, we had a couple of opportunities ourselves to win it.

“How far can we go? We will see. I am not one to get carried away and my players are still learning about themselves.

“I think we have done incredibly well this season. Any team who has played us will say we are a decent side.

“We have had a few draws now but don’t knock that. I have told the lads that the draws provide a nice base for us to win and push on.

“Every point is valuable.”

Blair is again likely to link up with Scott Kerr and Danny Kearns in midfield despite his stumble into the mannequin following a collision with Michael Potts in training, which Mills admits has made the Coventry-born player the butt of the jokes among his team-mates.

Kearns, who joined on loan from Peterborough United earlier this month, has already caught the eye of Mills.

He said: “Danny did well against Coventry and again at Bradford. I have been delighted with him so far. He keeps the ball well and passes well.

“I believe he will only get better the more games he plays with us. Danny has only just joined us but I have been very pleased.”

Jason Walker should be fit despite going into last weekend’s draw at Bradford City with an injury, while Chris Doig could be fit after missing the derby trip to Valley Parade. Kerr, now fully recovered from the cruciate ligament damage that ruled him out of last season’s run-in, has also reported no ill-effects to playing his first 90 minutes since March.