York City defender Adam Crookes’ return a boost for boss

The pair returned to action for York in Saturday’s 1-0 victory at Yeovil Town, as an Ollie Pearce penalty was powered beyond Aidan Stone to capture the three points in Somerset.

Crookes, who enjoyed 28 minutes of action for City after replacing Cam John, made his first appearance for the Minstermen since November’s emphatic 6-2 triumph over Maidenhead United, a game where he even scored and got an assist from left-back for York.

But just five appearances for the season has seen his game time restricted due to injuries, which strangely hasn’t been the same reoccurring setback, but are rather separate injuries to different parts of his body.

Hinshelwood is hopeful that it can be the start of a run of games for Crookes, with plans in place to give the left-back an opportunity when travelling to Braintree Town next Saturday (3pm).

“It’s so good [to have Crookes back], if he plays a full season for us then it’s going to be the difference with some of the errors we’ve made,” Hinshelwood beamed.

“We just want him available now for the last nine games, just for as many as them as we can.

“Saturday to Tuesday is going to be difficult next week, but if he can get a start and get up to an hour next Saturday, and then the following week at home, then the squad will be in a much better place.

“He’s a fantastic player and really adds to us. His strength, he’s good in the air and that left foot really helps us.

“We build with a three so it works perfectly with Malachi [Fagan-Walcott] on the right, Callum [Howe] and then Crookesy or Cam John on the left.

“Batts [Dan Batty] has then been dropping in to make a four and get the ball a little bit wider for us.

“There are still stuff we can work on, I think that when teams play against us they just try and protect the middle of the pitch.

“In recent weeks we’ve had to find other ways of how we can work the ball around other teams and create a bit more.

“It’s good to have that cover, with Ryan and Crookesy who can both play at centre-back.

“If anything does happen to our centre-half pairing then we’d be in a bit of trouble, so it’s brilliant to have them back for the squad depth as well.”

As well as welcoming back two York players for the match, Hinshelwood sprung something of a surprise in his 18-man team sheet with the notable absences of Ricky Aguiar, Marvin Armstrong and Jeff King.

Armstrong was the only one of the trio to travel down to Yeovil and was involved in the pre-match warm-up, whilst Aguiar and King were rested to give Crookes and Fallowfield needed minutes.

The boss explained: “Ricky and Jeff King stayed behind. Marvin travelled with the group but wasn’t in the squad.

“We’re getting to that stage in the season, so I thought it was important that we got Ryan and Crookesy on the pitch so that they could add to the squad.

“It was pointless having loads of players playing in a similar position.

“Now with them getting minutes, they just add to our squad and I think that’s important with nine games to go that we could try and utilise everyone.

“Now the squad is up and there’s real competition for places.”