YORK City skipper Simon Heslop has insisted Sutton United’s 3G pitch will not present any problems during Saturday’s National League clash.

The Minstermen have already drawn 1-1 at Maidstone and knocked Harlow out of the FA Trophy 2-1 on similar artificial surfaces this season.

Heslop played in both games and believes the only difference between the synthetic turf and grass is the recovery time needed post-match.

“The lads will have a bit of a moan and groan afterwards about sore knees and backs, but the pitch can’t be used as an excuse at all during the game,” the York-born, 29-year-old declared. “It’s more afterwards that it becomes a bit of a problem.

“It doesn’t really affect you when you’re playing. We’ll just need a bit more recovery time before next Tuesday’s game (the FA Trophy semi-final, first-leg against Lincoln at Bootham Crescent).”

Heslop also reasoned that going back on the road does not faze the team either, with more than three months having elapsed since the Minstermen’s last defeat on their travels at Tranmere.

Starting with the Boxing Day victory at North Ferriby – a game that ended the club record-equalling run of 35 away games without a win - Gary Mills’ men have won three and drawn four of their last seven fixtures outside of North Yorkshire and Heslop added: “Playing away was a problem, but I feel confident at home and on our travels now.

“We go into every game believing we can win and that will be the same at the weekend.”

The former Wrexham midfielder went on to joke that he might get some throwing practice in before the visit to Gander Green Lane, having found himself in the unfamiliar position of setting up a goal with his hands during Saturday’s 3-1 triumph against Eastleigh.

“I threw it as far as I could,” he said of his unlikely assist for Jon Parkin’s second goal. “I’ve not got a long throw and that’s probably the longest I’ve ever thrown a ball.

“I still had to tell V (Vadaine Oliver) to come a bit closer, but he got the flick on and that’s how easy it can be sometimes. I can perhaps practice my throws a bit for accuracy, but I don’t think I’ll ever be able to chuck it like Gary Neville and I didn’t really need to when I was playing in midfield, but maybe I’ve got to get used to it a bit more now I’m out wide.

“If I can get it into the box, I’m happy and, when you’ve got targets like V and Parky in there, it can pay off.”

One or two of Parkin, Oliver and the other member of City’s three-pronged strikeforce Amari Morgan-Smith have been on target in each of City’s last six matches, claiming four, three and two goals apiece during that period respectively.

On their contribution to the team’s efforts, Heslop enthused: “The front three give us an outlet and I can’t praise them enough. They’re all a bit different and that causes problems for defences.”

Oliver has given the team an added dimension following his return from a half-season loan at Notts County and, describing his current worth to the side, Heslop pointed out:

“He’s a big, strong lad and their defender was never going to get the ball once he got that side of him on Saturday for his goal and he took his chance really well.

“At the start of the season, for a player who knew the manager didn’t want him, he still came into training with a good attitude and, since coming back, he’s been an important part of the squad.”

Highlighting the team spirit now at Bootham Crescent, Heslop explained too that Kyle Letheren’s blunder that handed Eastleigh a route back into the game at the weekend only served as an added incentive to the side, who didn’t want the error further highlighted if victory was subsequently thrown away.

“We made it difficult for ourselves when Kyle made a bit of an error, but he’s been brilliant for us and I was really pleased for him that we managed to rally around him and secure three points,” the former Huntington School pupil said.