EVEN without Kevin Hulme, York City can boast a pretty powerful attacking line-up writes STEVE BOTT.

Hulme, who started his career at Boro, is suspended, but the Minstermen can still call on former Newcastle and Ipswich hitman Alex Mathie, current top scorer David McNiven and loan stars Neil Tarrant and Chris Iwelumo.

Mathie was signed from Dundee United six weeks ago and has been recovering from a hamstring injury, but was on the bench for Saturday's 3-2 home win over Torquay and is in line for Sunday if he comes through a midweek reserve game at Scunthorpe.

McNiven is the twin brother of Oldham's Scot. He also saw service with the Latics and Scarborough and is York's top scorer this season with six goals.

Tarrant is the one everyone is talking about. He is a Scottish Under-21 international and has just started a second month on loan from Premiership Aston Villa, who snapped him up from Ross County for £250,000 after he hit 20 goals in 44 games for the Scottish First Division side.

Iwelumo is a 6ft 4in, 22-year-old Scot who signed on a month's loan from Stoke City last Friday. He is in a similar position at the Brittania Stadium to Dean Crowe, who Bury loaned from Stoke. He came on for 20 minutes against Torquay.

York have a couple of ex-Bury players in their ranks, apart from Hulmey, but only one is likely to play against the Boro.

Mark Sertori is likely to be wearing the captain's armband on his return to Gigg, as regular skipper, Steve Agnew, is highly doubtful with a hamstring injury.

Another former Shaker, Peter Swan, who was the York club captain, has had to retire due to a knee injury, but wing back Darren Edmondson is likely to feature after a calf strain.

Manager Terry Dolan arrived at Bootham Crescent in February and despite not having had the start they would have liked in the Third Division this season, he has the backing of the fans and controversial chairman, Douglas Craig.