MATTY Dixon signed an 18-month deal at York City with no intention of becoming a non-League footballer.

The 21-year-old midfielder was part of Hull City's Premier League squad last season and made his professional debut for the Tigers earlier this term during a Capital One Cup tie at Accrington Stanley.

Steve Bruce's men currently lie second in the Championship standings but, despite swapping such rarefied heights for a club currently anchored to the bottom of the Football League, Dixon is confident the Minstermen will claw their way out of trouble.

He said: "I definitely believe we can stay up.

"It's tight at the bottom and it's all about survival now as a team because we're not in the best of positions but there's time to get out of it."

Dixon's optimism was fuelled by last weekend's performance against Newport when, watching on as an unused substitute a day after agreeing terms at Bootham Crescent, he felt his new club were unfortunate to lose 1-0.

"I thought we deserved something out of the match and, after a slow start, dominated it," he reasoned. "We had chances to score and the keeper made a great save from Vadaine (Oliver).

"On another day, that would have gone in and you never know what would have happened then"

Despite being on Hull's books for ten years and, finally, making his first-team breakthrough as an extra-time substitute at Accrington, Dixon believes he has left the KC Stadium at the right stage in his life, having been unable to add to his one outing for the Humbersiders since that August clash.

"I originally came to York for a week's training with the view to a loan move," he explained. "But the gaffer here wanted to sign me on a permanent deal and leaving Hull was something I'd been looking at doing.

"It was a great privilege to come on at Accrington and a proud moment for me and my family. I thought I'd get another chance after that, but a couple more players were added to what was already quite a big squad and that pushed me further down the pecking order.

"I wanted to be playing men's football, but they've got a really good squad and I expect them to go up this season, so it was hard for a lot of young lads there, not just me. Sometimes you have to get out and try and work your way back up and I'm just hoping for a chance here at some point.

"Then, it will be up to me to take it and show the gaffer and everyone else what I can do."

Despite limited senior opportunities for the under-21s skipper at Hull, Dixon also admitted working with the likes of ex-England international midfielders Tom Huddlestone and Jake Livermore was an education, adding: "You learn off people like that all the time. They've been there and done it, including playing for their country"

Dixon went on to suggest that his seven loan appearances for part-timers Gainsborough Trinity last term should prove beneficial too, as he looks to prove his worth in the Football League with the Minstermen.

"It gave me a good insight to men's football and the standard is a lot better than people think," he explained. "There are some good players down there and I can bring that experience here."

City boss Jackie McNamara switched from 4-3-3 to 4-4-2 against Newport and, while confessing that he is more accustomed to the latter system, he feels he is flexible enough to perform in the former as well.

"I probably prefer playing in a 4-4-2," he revealed. "That's how we lined up at Hull with the under 21s but, if I had to play in a 4-3-3, I would adapt."