EMILE Sinclair will be a happy man if York City carry on playing 4-3-3.

City started with that system during last weekend’s 2-2 home draw with Carlisle after finishing with the same formation in the previous game at Stevenage, which produced the same outcome.

Sinclair came off the bench to help inspire fight backs in both games and, while Vadaine Oliver’s red card against the Cumbrians meant the Minstermen played the majority of the second period of that match as a 4-3-2, the 27-year-old forward is hoping manager Russ Wilcox persists with a three-pronged strike-force.

“I actually prefer playing 4-3-3 and I think it does suit me more,” Sinclair explained. “It’s more attacking and, for me personally, I can play on either the right or the left.

“I prefer the left because I can use my pace to get on the ball and run at players and then cut inside and have lots of shots but, whether we play 4-3-3 or 3-5-2, I can play in both and am happy either way really.”

He added: “I’ve played up front on my own before or as the central striker in a three at Macclesfield, Peterborough and other clubs so I will play wherever the gaffer feels I can do the best job because I just want to play games, score some goals and help the club climb the table,” he added.

Sinclair has also told Wilcox he is fit enough to start his first game in six months following the thigh injury that saw him miss the final six weeks of last term and the whole of pre-season.

He said: “I’ve told the gaffer I’m definitely ready. Even if I give my all and I’m blowing up after 70 or 80 minutes, I know we have got players on the bench that can come on, do well and change the game, as we proved on Saturday.

“Hopefully, he will throw me in and I can do a job for him. He spoke to me the day before the Carlisle game because I was actually disappointed that I wouldn’t be playing against them but the boys have been doing well and, in that situation, you just have to wait for your chance.

“Obviously, you don’t really want to come in if the team has lost a player due to suspension but you have to take whatever chances come your way, especially as a striker. Hopefully, I can score a goal if I’m selected and make sure I’m in the team from now on to put the other boys under some pressure.

“Being out for as long as five months and having struggled with injuries over the last two seasons, I just want to get back to playing football. I want to get into the team or keep playing well so I will get into it, so I’ve just got to keep giving performances like my last two, get any fitness I need in reserve games and keep performing in training.”

Having also started out at County’s more-celebrated neighbours Forest, where he made 18 appearances, Sinclair is expecting a hostile reception if he features at their 20,000-capacity Meadow Lane ground.

“Being at Forest when I was younger, I’ve got a bit of history with the fans there,” he smiled. “I always enjoy going back to Nottingham though and playing in their big stadiums.

“As footballers, you live for those occasions, cherish the moments and take full advantage of them. The last couple of times I have played there, there’s been a bit of banter but that’s all well and good.

“I take it in good humour and don’t mind it to be fair. Hopefully, I can score and do a little goal celebration for them.”

With the belief garnered from last weekend’s unlikely draw, which was also aided by the support of a loud home crowd, Sinclair feels the team will make the short journey in buoyant mood, adding: “We went into the Carlisle game confident after picking up four points from six away from home but, at 2-0 down with ten men, it was good to get anything from the game and that showed character from all the boys in the squad, as Josh (Carson) proved when he came on and scored.

“The gaffer has instilled into us that, no matter what the score is, you have got to keep fighting. That game could have turned into a rout at 2-0 down with ten men so early in the second half.

“It could have been 3-0 or 4-0 but the crowd also got behind us, especially after the first goal went in. I don’t think they stopped singing after that and that helped as well.”