York City boss Stuart Maynard has admitted that Scunthorpe United’s strong start to the campaign was the main factor behind his decision to recall goalkeeper Rory Watson from his season long loan spell at Glanford Park.
The Minstermen activated a 24 hour recall ahead of the Iron’s FA Cup clash with Blackpool last weekend and Maynard confirmed to BBC Radio York that he couldn’t justify letting one of his own players help a promotion chasing rival.
“He’s performed incredibly well for Scunthorpe and I look at them – they’re a rival now. So why would we want to strengthen a rival?
“When we loan players to mid-table teams that are taking points off those around us, it helps us. But Scunthorpe have done incredibly well, and Rory’s been a huge part of their success.”
The decision to recall Watson, who did not feature in the York squad for their FA Cup defeat at Barnsley, has also coincided with backroom changes in the goalkeeping department at the LNER stadium.
Iron boss Andy Butler moved quickly to secure cover and extend the youth loan of Leeds United youngster Rory Mahady last week, but is set for another goalkeeping conundrum later this month.
Mahady has since been called up to the Scotland U21 squad for their European Championship qualifiers against Gibraltar and Bulgaria – leaving United once again assessing their options between the sticks.
Former Doncaster youngster Kian Johnson may be handed his first league start when the Iron travel to Solihull later this month.
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