York City skipper Simon Heslop reckons Richard Brodie can carry on scoring

Brodie has netted in each of the Minstermen’s last four matches with five-goal pair James Norwood and Jonny Margetts, of Tranmere Rovers and Lincoln City respectively, the only players ahead of him in the Vanarama National League scoring charts, despite the 29-year-old City striker not starting any of the first three fixtures this term.

Captain Heslop witnessed Brodie’s goalscoring exploits during the latter’s prolific first spell at Bootham Crescent, having been in the Luton side that succumbed to the former Newcastle Benfield Bay Plastics marksman’s 37th goal of the season during the 2009/10 play-offs.

The ex-Wrexham and Torquay midfielder now sees no reason why Brodie cannot maintain his early-season scoring spree, saying: “He has always had an eye for goal and, if we get the ball in the box or into his feet, he will always get goals.

“Two games in three days was asking a lot from him at the weekend, but he got on the scoresheet again and is getting fitter and stronger all the time.”

The biggest barrier between Brodie and hitting the back of the net on a regular basis this season might prove to be suspension with the bustling frontman having already received three cautions.

Right-back Shaun Rooney is also two bookings away from incurring a one-match ban, while 14 Minstermen players in total have already had their name taken during 2016/17.

A red card for Heslop, for two bookable offences, has already seen him sit out one match, but the York-born 29-year-old protested his innocence following the dismissal at Forest Green Rovers and also insisted that the team are doing their best to avoid unnecessary trouble with officials.

He added: “The big thing the referee pointed out before our first game at Maidstone is that there will be a massive clamp down on players running towards the referee with arm gestures and we are trying to avoid that to cut out cheap bookings, but I thought my sending off was a bit harsh. The referee was booking a lot of players in the game and my second yellow card was not an intentional foul.

“He felt that I’d gone to ground and brought their player down, but I slipped and I wish the referee could have understood that before he gave me the second booking.”

Despite City enjoying a 4-1 home triumph over Woking in Heslop’s absence, he was back in the team at the expense of Clovis Kamdjo for Monday’s 2-1 defeat at Wrexham and, on manager Jackie McNamara’s display of faith, he admitted: “I was delighted to get the recall, especially against my former club because I was really looking forward to going there.

“I didn’t have to wait too long either with the game coming just two days after Saturday but, unfortunately, we couldn’t get the result we wanted. We didn’t start the game very well and found ourselves 1-0 down, but we reacted really well and, after we got a good equaliser, we should have gone in ahead at half-time because we got in some good areas and created some good chances.

“If we had gone ahead then, the crowd might have turned a bit and it might have been a different story, but we didn’t really kick on and get ourselves going in the second half. Two games in quick succession might have left us a bit leggy, but that was similar for both teams.”

The Wrexham defeat means the Minstermen will make the 640-mile trip to Torquay United next week having completed a full calendar year and 26 matches since they last won an away fixture.

In contrast, the side have tasted victory in seven of their last 16 Bootham Crescent contests, ahead of this weekend’s home clash against Solihull Moors.

But Heslop reasoned that an opening day draw at Maidstone and odd-goal losses against Forest Green and Wrexham suggest that a cure to the club’s travel sickness is on the horizon.

He said: “Seven points from three home games isn’t too bad a return and we’re at home again tomorrow, but our away form has not been good enough with one point from four games and has to improve massively.

“I don’t think we’re a million miles off though. Aside from the absolute embarrassment of losing 6-1 at Gateshead, we could have had more points from the other three games with a bit of luck and, once we get that first away win, that will give us the confidence to pick up more.”

First, though, Heslop is planning for a repeat performance of the Woking victory against 13th-placed Solihull.

“We will just be treating the game like the last home one,” he explained. “We will be making sure we’re focused going it and that we’re ready to cause them problems.

“They’re slightly above us in the league table, so we will go above them if we beat them and that’s in our minds too.”

Matty Dixon, meanwhile, is set to retain his place in the starting line-up for a fourth successive game, representing the former Hull City reserves skipper’s longest run in the side since his January arrival in North Yorkshire.

On his fellow midfielder’s form, Heslop added: “I think he’s put in some good performances and has done really well since coming into the team. He has quality on the ball and works hard, so he’s just got to keep that going.”