YORK CITY boss Russ Wilcox believes his players will need to find another level if they are to compete with Premier League opponents Newcastle United tonight.

The Magpies arrive at Bootham Crescent under York-born manager Steve McClaren (kick off 7.45pm) expected to bring a mix of first-team and fringe players and Minstermen chief Wilcox is focusing on performance rather than result.

He hailed the friendly as a "tremendous fixture" for the club and hoped supporters would flock to hopefully see the likes of Tim Krul, Papiss Cisse and Moussa Sissoko in action.

Wilcox said: "Let's be honest, it's going to be very difficult to get a result against Newcastle. We have played three Championship teams and have acquitted ourselves really well but we are talking about another level up.

"There is a big jump between the Championship and the Premier League. We are looking to acquit ourselves well and build on the performances from those Championship games.

"We hope we have got the blip on Saturday (against Harrogate Town) out of the way. That gave us a chance to reflect and regroup.

"I think in the long run it will be a positive and can give us a wake-up call for the start of the season. It refocuses everyone – staff and individuals."

The City manager continued: "This is a tremendous fixture for the football club. I am hoping the fans will turn out – as they have done for all the pre-season games – and this might be the one they look at and say 'I really want to go to that'.

"Steve McClaren is born and bred in York and that gives the game a little spice to it. It's excellent for us. As a squad and staff you want to pit yourselves against the best teams.

"I want to see positive aspects to our play. That's the key. Offensively, we haven't got the players out there we would like.

"That has been the real downside of pre-season. We want to be working on combinations with the front two and getting them to understand people's games – especially with Vadaine Oliver being a new signing.

"But we have got to look forward and always in a positive light."

City drew 1-1 in their latest pre-season workout at Darlington 1883 on Monday night with a team that saw Eddie Nolan and George Swan make their returns from injury.

The future of the unnamed trialist who scored the Minstermen's equaliser remains uncertain, while Wilcox confirmed he is still on the hunt for added power up front with Jake Hyde, Michael Coulson and Emile Sinclair yet to hit a ball in anger.

Wilcox said of the encounter at Heritage Park: "The most important thing is getting people up to speed and up for a 50-game season.

"Some will make the first game and some won't. The pleasing thing was to get the full 11 players 90 minutes. Psychologically, it is always good to get through that 90."

On the return of Swan and Nolan, Wilcox added: "I felt they both acquitted themselves really well.

"Eddie played centre-half against Darlington and he is very versatile and can fill a lot of spots. They have all trained again and there has been no reaction and that's really pleasing.

"Of the three (injured forwards), Jake is the closest of them (to a return). He has done some work on the grass on Tuesday but he is not back with the group yet and he won't figure against Newcastle.

"We are hoping that, as the week progresses and if there is no reaction, he would be very close to playing some part on Saturday (against Halifax)."

Wilcox added that a behind-closed-doors game next Tuesday against Doncaster would also give some of the players "top-up minutes" as the build-up continues to the opener at Wycombe on August 8.