SOUTHEND old boy Anthony Straker feels no remorse at leaving the Essex club for York City in the summer.

Straker will be a member of the Minstermen squad that takes on the Shrimpers at Bootham Crescent this afternoon, having decided to swap one beaten SkyBet League Two play-off semi-finalist for another at the end of last season.

He has since seen his former employers climb into a top-seven position again, while his new team have only won one of their opening ten fixtures.

But Straker, who also lost his City starting place for Tuesday's 0-0 home draw with Luton, is confident that Nigel Worthington's side can follow today's visitors up the division.

He said: "You can never have regrets. I chose a different path to come here and I am happy to be part of this squad.

"All the boys here are good players and, once we put all the pieces together, we will be up and around those play-off places as well."

Worthington has been critical of the Minstermen's wing play in recent weeks with Straker and fellow flank patroller Lindon Meikle coming under firm scrutiny.

The former England under-18 international concedes that performances in the wide positions could have been better, adding: "As a player, you always want to bring your best to games. Maybe, at times, we haven't done that, but we are working hard to do the best we can for the team and the fans so, hopefully, it will come off for us soon."

Straker also had no qualms about being dropped from the first XI against Luton, reasoning: "I'm happy to help the boys, as well as myself. I'm just pleased to be involved, whether that's starting games or coming off the bench."

On the challenge presented by his old club, Straker said: "They are very similar to ourselves. They want to get the ball down and play but they will work hard and harry you as well to get it back.

"If we stand up to that, we will be alright. I still know a few boys, so it's a game I am looking forward to being involved in."