York City v Portsmouth: Pirates striker set to answer call for York

How the Minstermen, with just one win from the first 10 League Two games and two first-round Cup exits to their name this time around, need a similar lift today when Pompey return to Bootham Crescent.

Nigel Worthington’s men sit fourth bottom of the Football League after losing three of their last four games, the most recent of which at Dagenham & Redbridge a week ago saw the travelling fans turn on the team.

City’s manager had no problem with that, especially after the manner of the performance against the Essex club.

Now, though, Worthington is calling for unity and for his players to give the fans something to cheer about when taking on a Portsmouth side who York completed the double over, a 4-2 victory at home being followed by a 1-0 triumph at Fratton Park in March.

Worthington said: “I have got no issue with the fans letting us know they weren’t happy last weekend. You live with that and it is important to react the right way and give them something to shout about.”

The former Northern Ireland international’s response to his side’s poor start was to this week bring Ryan Brunt in on loan from Conference side Bristol Rovers for a month.

City’s new arrival may go straight into the starting line-up, even though the Pirates striker, who has fully recovered from a knee injury, last completed a full 90 minutes on October 26 last year.

Worthington had wanted Brunt to be one of two new additions this week but a move for Norwich City winger Jamar Loza stalled after he was selected for international duty by Jamaica.