SEAN Newton is keen to stay in the “thick of it” by carrying on playing in midfield following York City’s successful switch to 4-3-3.

The Minstermen’s skipper occupied a place on the left side of defence as manager Gary Mills plumped for a back three during the National League North opening-day home defeat to Telford.

But, following Newton’s move forward, City have taken seven points from a possible nine with the 28-year-old utility man on target in victories at Blyth (2-0) and Bradford Park Avenue (5-0).

Due to Hamza Bencherif’s suspension, Newton is under consideration for a return to defence for tomorrow’s home clash with Nuneaton, but the ex-England C international, who has spent large parts of his career playing at left back, admits he now feels best suited to a midfield role, saying: “I think the more I play there, the better I’ll get and I do think it’s my best position now.

“I love being involved in the game constantly, whether that’s heading, tackling, running forward or screaming at people and making sure we are tight. I like to be in the thick of it and, when I’m out left or playing centre half, I don’t feel a part of things as much, whereas you can take the game by the scruff of the neck in midfield.”

With City having kept three consecutive clean sheets after changing tactics, Newton has also been happy to leave the back line in the capable hands of keeper Jon Worsnop and defensive quartet Josh Law, Bencherif, Dan Parslow and Alex Whittle, adding: “We know teams will get chances.

“That happens whatever the level of team you are playing, but it’s been all about those four putting their bodies on the line and the keeper making saves. With those guys behind us, we know one goal can win a game at the moment.”

As the team’s top scorer so far this term on two, along with Amari Morgan-Smith, Newton added that he is confident of maintaining such potency throughout the season in his current position.

“I’ve scored two already and got a few goals and a assists when I played there last season,” he pointed out. “I also had two or three chances on the edge of the box against Darlington on Tuesday.

“The keeper made a great save from one and I put another wide, so I believe I will score goals from midfield.”

During Mills’ first spell in charge at Bootham Crescent, his midfield axis of Andre Boucaud, Scott Kerr and Paddy McLaughlin dominated proceedings during the first half of the double Wembley-winning campaign of 2011/12.

The trio had an almost telepathic understanding and Newton reckons he, Simon Heslop and Adriano Moke complement each other well too, declaring: “We’re all a bit different.

“I’m a bit box-to-box and love to tackle, head and organise. Mokes gets on the ball and makes things tick over, while covering the defence.

“Hessie then wins the second balls. I think in the three games we’ve played together, we’ve done well and it’s made a massive difference to our performances since the first match.

“Me and Hessie just need to chip in with a few goals and assists, because we know Mokes will give us the freedom to get box-to-box.”

Despite Tuesday’s entertaining contest ending goalless against Darlington, Newton went on to suggest that City’s first-half performance was of a standard that cannot be matched by other teams in National League North and just needs to be married consistently with the clinical finishing displayed at Blyth and Bradford now.

“Salford will be strong, because their budget is ridiculous for this level but, if we play like that against anyone, there’s not another team that will live with us,” he reasoned. “Darlington were on the back foot and, if we had got a goal, I think it would have been game over.

“I felt it was the best 45 minutes since I’ve been at the club. We were unlucky not to be ahead at the break and they then showed us respect by changing their system and matching us in the second half.

We couldn’t get the goal, but I know, if we play like that most weeks, we will take our chances and run away with games. I’d be worried if we weren’t creating opportunities and it’s not a matter of us not being able to take them, because we proved at Bradford we can.

“I think the Nuneaton game will be similar to the others we have played in. The teams playing us home or away will try and hang in there for a draw and maybe nick a goal so, if we score early on, it makes things easier.”

Newton stressed his desire, meanwhile, to reward the club’s fans for their loyalty, having taken over the armband over the summer following relegation to the sixth tier of the English game.

A gate of 3,944 for the midweek Darlo clash was bigger than the crowds at six League Two contests over the weekend - those at Barnet, Cheltenham, Colchester, Crewe, Mansfield and Yeovil - with Newton enthusing: “The number of season tickets that were sold blew us away as a team over the summer and we want to take this club back up to the National League at least, because the support is a different level.

“They get behind us and spur us on and I feel the club is together now. It felt a bit broken when I first came here, but the fans are behind the players now and the players are doing it for the fans, so long may that continue, because that can carry is over the line.”