YORK City boss Russ Wilcox has made Taron Hare his sixth summer signing and is still looking to complete a deal for fellow trialist Reece Thompson.

Former Scunthorpe youth-team captain Hare, 18, has agreed a one-year deal having featured in all of City's pre-season friendlies.

Wilcox, meanwhile, remains in negotiations with Evostik Premier League Frickley Athletic over a move for Thompson - a player whose stock could have risen following his spectacular goal during the 2-1 victory over Newcastle at Bootham Crescent on Wednesday night and who the Minstermen chief has likened to Leicester's newly-capped England striker Jamie Vardy.

"That goal probably didn't help us and it might have been better if the shot had hit the post and come back out," Wilcox smiled ruefully. "The talks are still a work in progress and I feel that Reece would bring something different to the team.

"He stretches defenders by getting in behind them and reminds me a bit of Jamie Vardy, who started out at Stocksbridge and they are in the same league as Frickley.

"I'm not saying, if we get him, he'll be the next Jamie Vardy but there are similarities. As a former defender, the players you didn't like playing against were the runners, chasers and harriers because they caused you problems.

"Reece can also score goals and, hopefully, we will have some news on him in the not-too-distant future but, if not and we lose out, we'll have to look somewhere else."

The City chief added, meanwhile, that he expects defender Hare and fellow teenagers Callum Rzonca and Ben Godfrey to challenge for senior duty during 2015/16 following their exposure in pre-season.

"Taron's only 18 and, whilst he's a big lad, we will still be looking to develop physically and mentally, but he's shown in games that he's ready to go as well," Wilcox explained. "I want him to push for a first-team shirt because it doesn't matter how old you are if you have the necessary qualities and he's shown that he has in the friendlies.

"If he gets a chance and takes it, he will keep the shirt. With the injuries we've had, we've been able to look at some of our younger players and the likes of Taron, Callum Rzonca and Ben Godfrey have all done well against Championship and Premier League teams in front of big crowds, which is good for their development.

"I've been impressed with them all and I think they're ready if needed."

This time last year, Wilcox also involved Hare in his pre-season preparations at Scunthorpe and was pleased to capitalise when the Glanford Park club decided he was surplus to requirements.

On the ex-Iron apprentice's ability and character, Wilcox said: "First and foremost, he's a great kid who wants to do well and be successful. He works hard to improve his game and I was surprised he didn't get a contract at Scunthorpe but I think they are moving in a different direction, so their loss is our gain.

"He's also versatile. He had never played wing-back because we didn't use the system at Scunthorpe, but he's adapted well when we've tried him there in pre-season.

"I feel he's improved even during the three of four weeks he's been with us and, at Scunthorpe, he had a terrific attitude. He was always a winner and trained well, which is why he was the youth-team captain and I want those types of players here."

City will wrap up their pre-season programme with a trip to Conference outfit Halifax tomorrow afternoon (kick-off 3pm)and Wilcox is keen to treat the match as a rehearsal for the following Saturday's Sky Bet League Two curtain raiser at Wycombe.

"I want to put a side out that resembles what we will go with at Wycombe barring one or two maybe," he revealed.