ON-LOAN wing-back David Tutonda believes York City have a better group of players than the promotion-chasing Newport County squad he was a member of last season.

Tutonda will return to Rodney Parade tomorrow to tackle a home team currently bottom of the Football League - three points adrift of their 19th-placed visitors.

The Exiles narrowly missed out on the Sky Bet League Two play-offs last season and, with that experience in mind, the Cardiff City flank man reckons his new team can eclipse that achievement despite a modest start to the new campaign.

He said: "We're a really good team and just need time to gel. Then, the results will definitely improve.

"This squad is better than the one I was a part of at Newport. The scorelines might not reflect that yet, but they will come.

"We're not worried because we have been performing well and that's the most important thing. I'm hoping we can get to the play-offs, if not automatic promotion, because I genuinely think we are a good enough team to do so."

While Newport might be floundering on and off the pitch, Tutonda is also in no mood to show his old friends any mercy, adding: "It's sad to see that happen to any football club but I'm just focussed on York City.

"I still have a couple of mates at Newport and I've told them we won't be taking it easy on them. We can't be the first team they beat this season and that won't be the case.

"If we go there with a positive attitude and take our chances the game will be ours. They will be hard-working, physical and very organised and have a good manager.

"The lads who are still there from my spell can also play football, but I think we have what it takes to beat them."

Tutonda reasoned, though, that the Welsh strugglers are not without their threats, adding: "Aaron Collins - the young lad up top - has pace, skill and finishing ability for his age, but we can keep him quiet no problem.

"Mark Byrne is also a good player in the centre of midfield, as is Yan Klukowski. They will all look to cause us problems but we'll be all right."

Having been an unused substitute during the Capital One Cup visit to his parent club's bitter rivals Swansea, Tutonda is keen, meanwhile, to play a full part on his latest return to South Wales.

"It was a bit of a blow missing out against Swansea, but the gaffer explained it well to me," the Congo-born, 19-year-old revealed. "He said I was being rested and I had no problems with that whatsoever."

Tutonda went on to suggest he is most comfortable in the wing-back formation manager Russ Wilcox has largely employed this season and believes the system best suits the personnel at Bootham Crescent.

But, when asked what role he would prefer if the team switch to a back four, he opted for full back rather than winger, while stressing that he could operate in either position.

"I'm possibly more of a full-back but I can definitely do a job as a winger too," he enthused. "I came through the ranks at Cardiff as a left-sided midfielder but changed into a full back when I was a second-year scholar, so I feel comfortable in either role."

Tutonda scored one of his two goals in 12 outings at Newport against the Minstermen and, while still waiting to open his account for Wilcox's men, he promised: "I'm still getting into the routine of things here, but the goals will definitely come for me at York."

The speedy teenager also feels Femi Ilesanmi's presence on the left side of a back three during recent matches against Exeter and Mansfield has given him greater attacking licence, saying: "Femi has been brilliant and, with him in behind me, I feel I can push on more and I believe that partnership will form a key part of our team."