AN AWAY day at Tranmere Rovers is the perfect start to the new Sky Bet League Two campaign, believes York City assistant manager Steve Torpey.

The Minstermen go to Prenton Park on August 9 to meet a Merseyside outfit that were relegated from League One last season and Torpey believes not starting in front of an expectant Bootham Crescent crowd could help the Minstermen ease their way into the new term.

It could be a debut at his old club for goalkeeper Jason Mooney and Torpey isn’t expecting to see a Rovers side wallowing after their misfortunes last season.

“Sometimes it is nice to have your first game away from home,” he said. “It relieves a little bit of pressure. After the Tranmere game we have got three home games.

“It’s a great first month of the season for us and, on Jason Mooney, sometimes football throws fixtures up and I am sure he will be looking forward to it immensely.

“I know Tranmere have got a new manager, Rob Edwards from Exeter, and I played with him at Bristol City so I know he will be wanting to make his mark early on. All the ingredients add up to a good first game.

“There’s such a turnover of players nowadays that the squad from last year probably won’t be there. That’s similar to us. We’ve made six additions already so it depends on the squad.

“If it is the same you may get a hangover but, in this day of age, there’s a lot of turnover of playing staff.”

Torpey was welcoming striker Jake Hyde to the club after the Barnet hitman, who is out of contract with the Bees in a couple of weeks, came to the city to house hunt.

“He’s done it in League Two,” said Torpey of the prolific frontman. “He has done it in the Conference. Consistency is the main aspect and, as a striker, everyone is different. You can have the Luis Suarez type, the big Andy Carroll target man type and everyone has got their own aspects of how they play and what makes them tick.

“It might be crosses into the box and getting headers, anticipating things in and around the box and every player has their own individual ingredients that helps them score goals. Hopefully, Jake will have an abundance of them when he starts the season for us.”

Hyde said he was looking forward to getting his York City career under way: “As soon as I spoke to the chairman and the manager last summer, I knew this was the place I wanted to come to. I am glad to be back in the Football League.

“I’ve always enjoyed playing in it and it’s a fantastic league to play in. It’s a very strong league this year with some brilliant teams in it and it’s going to be a fantastic season.”