YORK City's new midfielder Luke Summerfield will bring a positive attitude to Bootham Crescent despite ending last season on a low with Shrewsbury.

The Shropshire club were relegated after finishing second-bottom in SkyBet League One following a run of just three wins from their last 22 fixtures.

But, whether Summerfield's reputation should be tainted by that sequence is debatable, with the Devon-born, 26-year-old only starting four of those matches.

His confidence and spirits, therefore, remain high ahead of the new campaign with City.

"We started last season really well and still had the nucleus of the side from the year before," said Summerfield as he reflected on the Shrews' 2013/14 fortunes. "I then got injured over January and struggled to get back in.

"The season did not end very well but that's football. You have to take relegation on the chin and I have definitely learned from it.

"I will be bringing a positive outlook to the club because I am hoping we can be there or thereabouts at the top end of the table and I am looking for success."

Summerfield will certainly draw encouragement from his last stint at League Two level when he helped Cheltenham reach the play-off final in 2012.

He teamed up with City skipper Russell Penn for long periods of that season and is looking forward to renewing that partnership, while pointing out that the likes of Lewis Montrose and Tom Platt will offer competition for midfield starting places.

The ex-Plymouth prodigy added: "The time I had with Russ was a really good season for Cheltenham. We played together for the majority of it and, hopefully, we can build on that next season.

"We know each other well and it helps having that experience of playing together, but there are lots of players vying for different positions here and everybody has different qualities. There is a really good nucleus to the squad and, hopefully, I can add something to that.

"I got as far as the play-off final with Cheltenham and, hopefully, we can go a bit further. I think the key at this level is knowing what you can do to win games, whether that is passing the ball or scrapping for it."

Summerfield is also hoping to score the goals that City chief Nigel Worthington feels he is capable of providing.

The Minstermen only managed one goal from the centre of midfield during the whole of last season and, while Summerfield's professional career of 17 in 235 outings might seem a little modest, there is evidence to support his new manager's belief.

At the age of 18, he netted the only goal of a Championship win from 30 yards for Plymouth against Colchester and, during his one previous campaign in the Football League's bottom tier, he found the target a respectable six times.

He is now keen to rediscover that form, having only notched on four occasions in 70 games for Shrewsbury.

"Hopefully, I can score a few goals and I am coming here to improve on my record over the last two years because I know that will benefit the team," he reasoned.

Having already plied his trade under the likes of high-profile names such as Tony Pulis, Ian Holloway, Paul Sturrock, Paul Mariner and Peter Reid, Summerfield is enthusiastic about the chance to work under former international and Premier League boss Worthington, who he wants to repay for pursuing his services with such vigour.

"My contract came to an end at Shrewsbury and, while there were a few things there for me, it was nice that York showed so much interest," he pointed out. "When somebody is that interested in you, in whatever line of work, it makes your decision easier.

"It didn't take take a lot of thinking about on my behalf because I have only heard good things about York City and the surroundings here. It's a lovely place to live and all that positivity made it an easy decision for me to come here.

"The manager is also top drawer and was so positive about me, the club and the city. I've worked for managers who have gone on to bigger and better things and you learn from all of them, whether it's stuff they did right or wrong.

"I am looking forward to working with the gaffer here now. I have heard so many good things about him and all the boys have been very complimentary."