YORK City boss Steve Watson is on the lookout for a number-10 rather than an orthodox centre-forward following his team’s change in formation.

Watson had agreed terms to bring in a natural striker earlier this month before an injury kiboshed that move, and the City chief has admitted his transfer-market priorities have altered since switching from 3-5-2 to 4-2-3-1.

The Minstermen will run the rule over former Bury and Northampton centre-back Ryan Cresswell, who is still training with the club, during a behind-closed-doors game against Chesterfield next week, but Watson feels there is still a gap for a supporting central attacker in his squad.

Outlining his recruitment thoughts, Watson said: “The deal with the striker was done but the player got injured the Saturday before he was going to come to us, and it wasn’t just a niggle – it was a serious one. But, now, if this system works and suits us better, it probably only lends itself to one out-and-out striker, so we’re probably looking for somebody who is more of a number-10 now and can pick pockets and create a bit more.

“But it will only happen if someone suitable crops up, because it’s no good for anybody if we’ve got seven players who aren’t even getting changed on a Saturday.”

City will go into this weekend’s National League North contest at Kidderminster Harriers one body lighter following Macaulay Langstaff’s departure for Bradford Park Avenue on a one-month loan deal.

Langstaff was farmed out to Blyth Spartans last term by Watson when the pair worked together at Gateshead, where he returned to feature in the last three fixtures of the season and the City boss is not ruling out a similar scenario at Bootham Crescent.

He is also questioning whether other members of the squad, who are in the same position as Langstaff, will want to seek opportunities elsewhere too.

“I don’t expect anything to happen before this weekend in terms of incomings or outgoings but, if you’re a player not contracted here next season and not involved on a Saturday, I’d be surprised if you’re not looking to play football somewhere else,” Watson reasoned. “Macaulay asked if it was better if he played games somewhere else if he wasn’t going to be involved here and I agreed it would benefit him and us.

“I did the same with him at Gateshead and he came back and was involved at the end of the season and I’m hoping he can come back here raring to go.”