Former Southend hitman Barry Conlon is facing a fitness fight ahead of his old team-mates' visit to York City tonight.

The 21-year-old striker is desperate to lead the Minstermen into battle against the Seasiders, but a niggly ankle injury is threatening to rule Conlon out of Southend's Third Division trip to Bootham Crescent.

"I've been looking forward to this game all season and I don't want to miss out," said Conlon, who blasted seven league goals for Blues last term.

"But I've got problems with my ankle, which has been troubling me for the last month, and it's touch and go whether I'll be able to play against Southend."

However, the Republic of Ireland under-21 star, who was sold to York for £100,000 during the summer, believes this evening's meeting will be a close affair, even if he doesn't play.

"Both sides need the three points on offer badly and I'm sure this match will be a real battle," added Conlon, who still keeps in touch with Shrimpers players Trevor Fitzpatrick and David Morley.

"But I'm not going to make any predictions as I believe this will be a very close game and a tough contest.

"Southend and York need to get back in the promotion frame quickly and I'm sure they'll want to start their Christmas programme with a victory from this encounter to edge them nearer the play-offs."

Conlon drew comparisons between the turmoil currently affecting newly-relegated York and his time at Southend.

The Minstermen's disappointing start to the season has sparked unrest on the Bootham Crescent terraces which has seen the club's chairman Douglas Craig and manager Neil Thompson both come under attack.

"The situation here is very similar to the way it was at Roots Hall last year," added Conlon, who has scored five goals for his new club.

"York have just been relegated, as Southend had, and the fans are disappointed to see us at the wrong end of the league table as they expect the club to bounce straight back."

The big Irishman also admitted he still regrets being sold by Southend after less than a season on the Essex coast.

"It's a shame that I had to leave Southend so quickly because it is a good club but the move to Roots Hall never clicked for me," said Conlon, who joined Blues from Manchester City for £90,000.

"I found the going tough at times as I'd never been a first-team regular at Maine Road and I was still finding my feet.

"But since I've moved to York I've felt a lot stronger and feel I'm improving as a player with every game I play.

"Although, I obviously haven't got the luck of the Irish on my side as I've picked up this injury."

Ankle trouble - former Southend striker Barry Conlon is hoping to be fit to face his old team tonight

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.