YORK City’s new goalkeeper, Kyle Letheren, is looking to finally establish himself in English football.

Having started his career at Barnsley, Letheren only managed one half-time substitute outing in four years during his first spell in this country.

That was for the Oakwell club in a third round FA Cup tie against Blackpool, after which he failed to make a single appearance during a half-season loan at Doncaster or a full year with Plymouth.

After moving north of the border, Llanelli-born Letheren also managed just 12 outings in three seasons at Kilmarnock, before getting his chance to shine as Dundee won the 2015 Scottish Championship title - playing 56 games for the Dark Blues in a two-year stint.

His performances earned him a move back south to Blackpool but he was only given eight matches by last season’s relegated Sky Bet League One side, and he has arrived at Bootham Crescent as a man on a mission.

Letheren said: “Due to the unfortunate circumstances with Scott (City's former first-choice keeper Flinders is currently suspended by the club and serving a five-match ban for being found guilty by the FA of racial abuse), I had a phone call from Hinchy (goalkeeper coach Craig Hinchliffe) asking me if I fancied a move.

“I knew the gaffer (Jackie McNamara) from our times at Dundee and Dundee United and I’ve nearly come a few times before. He has always been interested but, with goalkeeping, it’s often a matter of clubs getting one out to get one in.

“I live in Wakefield, which is on the doorstep, so there wasn’t much to think about, because there’s nothing worse than being sat on a bench every Saturday. Playing is what you get paid for and what you love doing.

“Even if it has meant me dropping down a league, I’m happy to get playing somewhere and to put a smile back on my face. I’ve not had a run of games as such in England but I thought York is a good club, so let’s go.

"I just want to get that match sharpness and get better with each game now, but I’ve felt confident in both matches so far. There’s definitely potential at the club too - you could see that against Woking.”

The Minstermen failed to build on their 4-1 thrashing of Woking at Wrexham on Bank Holiday Monday when they went down 2-1.

Letheren lamented the fact the match was decided by a dead-ball situation - meaning that, along with previous matches against Maidstone, Boreham Wood and Forest Green, six points have already been lost from a failure to deal with such deliveries.

The 6ft 2in shot-stopper also drew attention to the team’s sloppy starts, with City conceding first in four of their last halves of football.

He said: “We need to start halves better. We started the first and second poorly at Wrexham, which was a bit like the Woking game as well.

“That makes things an uphill climb for you and gives the other sides momentum. Then, to lose the game on a set-piece was even more disappointing.

“You can’t be losing goals at set-pieces, because they are vital and will cost you dearly in this league, so we need to brush up on them.”

Letheren also revealed that somebody had done their homework concerning the penalty-taking preferences of Wrexham’s opening marksman John Rooney on Monday - but failed to inform him until after he had been beaten from 12 yards by the brother of England striker Wayne with a strike down the middle of the goal.

“I got told afterwards that he went down the middle with his last one, but I wish I’d known that beforehand,” the City net-minder said.

“I’m quite good at saving penalties, but it just managed to creep in after hitting the underside of my shin pad.”

Letheren admitted he did not expect to oust Luke Simpson from between the City sticks after the latter's impressive debut for the club at Forest Green prior to his arrival.

“I’d only come in two days before and I was as surprised as anybody that I was picked to play against Woking,” he said.

“I thought I would have to come and push Luke out of the way, but the gaffer put me straight in and that’s his decision.

“Luke has good talent for his age and I’m sure we will both be pushing each other.”