ADRIANO Moke is targeting a regular starting place and wants to be more attack-minded for York City during 2017/18.

A third of the 27-year-old midfielder's 24 appearances for the Minstermen last term came off the bench, from where manager Gary Mills felt he performed stronger than when he was included in the starting XI.

In fact, during his two spells with City – the first coming during the 2011/12 campaign – Moke has been used as a substitute in 30 of his 58 appearances under Mills.

With no goals and just two assists to his name last term, the skilful Glenn Hoddle Academy graduate is also planning on making a bigger impression in the final third of the pitch as the club begin life in National League North.

"I'm hoping to play my role and be more attack-minded next season," said Moke.

"Every player wants to play and my target is to prove people wrong in that I'm not just someone who can come on and change games. I want to start and end matches."

Moke added that he had no intention of turning down the chance of a new deal from Mills at City, as he did five years ago when, like this summer, he was out of contract but opted for a switch to Cambridge United instead.

The Minstermen had just been promoted to the Football League then and Cambridge were still a non-League side but Moke felt moving to the latter represented a better opportunity for first-team football.

Yet he only went on to start two league games for the Abbey Stadium outfit and even though the circumstances are different now, with the Minstermen having been relegated to National League North, Moke feels he has made a wiser decision this time around.

He said: "I'm really delighted to be staying and can't wait to get going again and help this club get back to where it's meant to be. I want to give it my all, so we can bounce back.

"There were a few other clubs showing a little bit of interest but it was a no-brainer for me. The gaffer wanted me to stay again and thinks we can get promotion and I didn't want to make the mistake I made before when I left York and went to Cambridge.

"I learned a lesson then and I love this club. It's where I made my senior debut."

Moke moved on to Halifax during that ill-fated season at Cambridge and helped the Shaymen clinch promotion back to the Conference via the play-offs in 2013.

The West Yorkshire outfit have just repeated that success a year after losing their National League status and Moke reckons that City are equipped to emulate them in 2017/18.

"I've played in National League North and got promoted with Halifax, so I know what it's all about and I've got that experience," he reasoned. "The style's no different to the division above really.

"It might be a bit physical but I know how to handle that and myself. The likes of Salford, Kidderminster and Stockport are all good sides, so it will still be tough, but I feel we will do really well if we knuckle down and help each other.

"Halifax bounced back straight away, so why can't we? I believe we can.

"Other teams will be looking at York City and expecting us to be a good side and I'm looking forward to the challenge of competing with those top teams in the division."