ANTHONY STRAKER won't be drawn on whether he feels he should make the starting line-up for York City's opening League Two encounter at Wycombe Wanderers on August 8.

The 26-year-old, sent out to Scottish Premier League outfit Motherwell during the second half of last season, has played an important role in Russ Wilcox's 3-5-2 formation in pre-season - filling a wing-back role.

Straker got the opening goal in the Minstermen's 2-1 win over Premier League Newcastle United on Wednesday night and looks in prime position to be one of the names on manager Russ Wilcox's team-sheet when City open the new campaign at the Chairboys.

But asked about his chances of featuring at Wycombe, having been rejuvenated following a spell where his York career looked uncertain, Straker insisted: "No-one knows who is going to be starting at the minute. That's down to the manager. Everyone has been given their equal chance and we are all putting in our bit to hopefully be there for August 8."

A conventional left-winger, Straker says he is familiar with the role he is being asked to play - having previously been a left-back - and he added that he was merely enjoying being out on the pitch at the club where he wants to play.

The former Aldershot player added: "To be out on the pitch, you are happy to be there but it is a role I have played before so I am familiar with it. I am just knuckling down and trying to get to grips with it again. It seems to be paying off.

"It's like anything, you have got to come back and, in a way, prove yourself and that you want to be here. This is where I want to be playing football and I have been given that chance to do so. I am happy to try and show what I can do."

Straker said Wilcox had been in regular contact with him when he was north of the border and he had relished the experience of playing 13 times in a different country.

"I had spoken to the manager while I was away on loan and was always having conversations," he explained. "He always showed that he wanted me to come back and I was happy to come back so there wasn't a problem.

"It was enjoyable (at Motherwell) and something different. It's a different way of playing football and another experience to say that you have tried. It depends on what team you play to compare it to the standard down here. It's not too far away from what League Two level is."

With City having failed to pick up a win last season until the sixth game, their 3-2 win at Stevenage preceded by five draws, Straker is hoping the Minstermen can get off to a better start this time - starting at a Wycombe outfit that lost agonisingly in the play-off final to Southend in May.

"You always want to get off to a good start and hopefully we will do better this time around but you have to take each game as it comes and just tally up the points so that we are at the right end of the table by the end of the season," he said.

"We had a half decent pre-season last year as well. I think the boys this year have maybe taken a bit of a blow from last year and that has made us come back and knuckle down even more. That little bit extra could be the difference for the season."

On Wycombe, he added: "Sometimes thing can change and, hopefully, they are on a bit of a downer going into it and we will see how it goes. It changes from year to year and hopefully we can go there and keep ourselves on the up."