Josh Law could rule in York City's midfield

The former Oldham and Motherwell utility man kicked off the season as a wing-back, before the switch to 4-3-3 saw him operate in his most-recognised position of right-back.

But Law operated in Oldham’s engine room at Sky Bet League One level last term and also fulfilled the same responsibilities in Scotland, where he was pitched against the likes of Glasgow giants Celtic and Rangers.

Jassem Sukar and Simon Heslop have both found the going tough since deputising in the deeply-lying playmaker role vacated by pulled-thigh muscle victim Adriano Moke.

The ex-Glenn Hoddle Academy graduate is set to be sidelined for six weeks and Law has reasoned that he could be a candidate in the important position if needed.

He said: “I feel more comfy at right back than wing-back, but I also played as a holding midfielder in seven or eight games at Oldham last season so, if the manager needs anybody to play there, I’m able to do that and it would be nothing

“It comes natural to me and I also played there quite a bit at Motherwell. I started off in midfield when I went up there, but there was a change of manager and I moved to full back and stayed there.”

Until told differently, though, Law wants to concentrate on the team’s ability to rediscover the miserly streak that secured three consecutive clean sheets, only for six goals to be shipped in the last three contests.

Outlining the key to shutting out the opposition again, the Nottingham-born, 28-year-old added: “We went on quite a good run of clean sheets and spoke about the importance of that as a team and a back four, because we want to look at the table and see our goals conceded column as low as possible.

“We need to get back to that now and make sure we’re solid out of possession, not just as a back four but as a team, because we were caught on the counter attack on Monday and, maybe, as a defence, we need to organise the people in front of us to make sure we keep the door closed.”

The 2-0 bank-holiday home defeat to FC United of Manchester left Gary Mills’ men eight points adrift of pace-setting pair Harrogate and Brackley after seven games, with Law admitting City cannot afford to lose much more ground, even at this early stage with only one automatic promotion place up for grabs.

On the duel target of a maximum haul from Saturday’s match at Chorley and Tuesday’s trip to Spennymoor Town, Law reasoned: “A couple of teams have had really strong starts, so we can’t lose pace with them. Coming off a loss, we need to get six points from the next two games and that’s our aim.”

Having set that short-term challenge, Law’s long-term desire, meanwhile, is to improve a home record that has seen the team fail to score in three of their opening four Bootham Crescent contests in the sixth tier of the English game.

City have also now lost more matches (six) than they have won (five) in front of their own fans during 2017.

He has been particularly frustrated by the team’s displays after half-time, with five of the six goals conceded by City on their own soil shipped in the second period.

“Monday’s game was a bit of a kick in the teeth and our home form is nowhere near good enough,” Law confessed. “There’s no sugar-coating that.

“We don’t fear anybody, but coming to our place is a big game for every club and players are dying for the cause by putting their bodies on the line and getting that extra 10 or 20 per cent out of themselves. They are playing in front of big crowds and want to show what they can do.

“But we have fantastic support with more than 3,000 fans watching us and we’re letting them down at the moment. We’ve had a lot of chances in all the games, though, so it’s important that we take them, because we’ve paid the price by conceding sloppy goals.

“We also realise our second halves have not been good enough. We’ve got to sort that out quickly because, even though it’s early in the season, we’re still playing for points.”

Having been a National League North regular for Alfreton Town for four season from 2007 to 2011, Law has insisted he will not be under-estimating any opposing sides this term, arguing that a strong division has risen in calibre since he last plied his trade at the same level six years ago.

“The standard is good and I knew that having played at this level when I was younger,” he explained. “A lot of teams are paying good money at this level and they are putting good sides together with good players, so the quality has probably improved too.”

Law went on to stress that he is hoping to deliver on the dead-ball promise he demonstrated in pre-season.

The ex-Chesterfield apprentice scored three free kicks in friendly wins over Grantham and Oakham United, including a brace of set-piece specials against the latter.

He also forced Telford keeper Jas Singh into a flying save on the opening day of the campaign, but was disappointed with a pair of efforts against FC United of Manchester, when Jon Parkin stepped aside for him.

“I had a couple on Monday and was disappointed to hit the wall but, hopefully, I can get a couple more and start putting some away,” he said.