YORK City will be welcomed by three Bootham Crescent old boys at Gateshead tonight.

Ryan Bowman, Jamal Fyfield and Paddy McLaughlin are all part of Neil Aspin’s Heed squad and are expected to feature against their former club.

Defender Fyfield and midfielder McLaughlin have played every minute of the north-east outfit’s first thre fixtures, while Bowman has been as a substitute in each match.

Bowman’s bench duty has been a little surprise with the 24-year-old forward having netted 19 times last term – the same tally he managed at National League rivals Torquay the season before.

In his absence, though, midfielder Wes York has picked up the mantle with three goals already in the new campaign, including an opening-day brace during the 3-0 home victory over Chester.

The summer signing arrived from Wrexham, where he hit the target ten times in 2015/16.

With six points from a possible nine, Gateshead currently lie fifth in the early standings and have the division’s joint-best defensive record, along with Tranmere and Aldershot, of one goal conceded.

Aspin’s defence were breached for the first time with a 90th-minute, fluked Forest Green effort during Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at the New Lawn when full-back Dale Bennett’s cross sailed into the away net.

Gateshead are not expected to make wholesale changes with ten players having started each of the club’s opening games – the only exception being Mitch Brundle’s replacement of former City trialist Danny Johnson at Forest Green.

Team (probable): S Johnson, Bolton, E Smith, Hogan, Fyfield, G Smith, York, Maftu, McLaughlin, Brundle, Styche.