Mills remains patient in search for striker

The York manager’s forward resources are seriously stretched with Ashley Chambers and Michael Coulson out injured and Oli Johnson not back in first-team contention yet.

Another attacker, Jamie Reed, is also expected to leave Bootham Crescent shortly with the 25-year-old having expressed his unhappiness at his lack of recent opportunities to Mills, who is willing to let him depart.

Blue Square Bet Premier high-fliers Grimsby Town and Wrexham are known admirers of Reed and are expected to finalise moves shortly.

But, despite the latest development, Mills is prepared to be patient.

Mills, who will run the rule over several trialists in a friendly with Sunderland next week, said: “We are not going to panic and sign somebody just for the sake of it, even though we are short, striker-wise.

“We have had a few options and could have signed a few players so far.

“But we did not feel it was right. We have got certain targets we are hanging on for who we are hoping that we can get.”

Cheltenham are still smarting from their 5-1 televised FA Cup home loss to Everton but Mills’s major concern is for his side to stop leaking silly goals.

If his troops manage to do that, Mills envisages a further rise up the table, although he admits that the Minstermen, just below half-way in the table, can be happy with their progress, as a whole, this term.

He added: “We are doing okay and I do not really think our points tally have justified our performances, but I do not want to be saying that too often.

“Yes, we have deserved a few more points, but a few sloppy goals has been costing us points lately.

“But we are one result from being in the top half of the league and that is credit to how well my players have done; they are doing superbly overall.”

On today’s opponents at Whaddon Road, he said: “They are having a good season and they are good at what they do. We will have to deal with them and then play our game.”