NEW loan signing Jonny Burn has insisted his York City debut at Boston United will be no different to playing in front of 53,000 fans at Celtic.

The York Street clash could potentially attract a three-figured crowd with the Pilgrims struggling second-bottom in the National League North table.

That would provide a stark contrast with Burn’s trip to face Champions League regulars Celtic last season when he was in a Kilmarnock side beaten 6-1.

Ex-City defenders Luke Hendrie and Will Boyle also played and were on the bench respectively in that match and Burn recalled: “We got thrashed at Celtic Park, but it was still a good experience playing in front of 53,000 people.

“They had Moussa Dembele, Lee Griffiths and Scott Sinclair in their team, who are big players, but you just blot that out during the game and I’ll have just the same approach as I had in that match when we go to Boston. It’s the same when you play anywhere – you’re there to do one thing and that’s win the game.”

Burn, 22, has no qualms, meanwhile, about falling three tiers from League One, where his parent club Bristol Rovers ply their trade.

The Darlington-born defender went on to cite the example of fellow ex-Middlesbrough reserve Ben Gibson, who made the same-sized drop when he was farmed out to then National League outfit City in 2012, as proof of the benefit of regular professional football, regardless of the level.

Gibson won a full England call-up this year and is an outsider for a World Cup squad place with Burn adding: “He had a few loan spells including here and look at him now – he’s Middlesbrough’s captain.

“If you play games, that gets your name back out there and you never know what can happen from there. I trained with Boro a few times.

“I was up against people like Patrick Bamford in training when he was on loan from Chelsea. He was big and strong and it was a very good experience for me to test myself with somebody of his level.

“But there was no real pathway to go further, so I went to Bristol Rovers, which hasn’t really worked out. I only played four games and felt I had to get out for more football.

“Hopefully, that will be the case at York City and I can get match-fit again, which is why, when the manager rang me up on Monday, I was here for training the next day. It doesn’t bother me playing at National League North level.

“It’s all about me playing some football, after being sat about down in Bristol. I also wanted to get back up north and, being around my family at Christmas time, played a part in me coming here, but it’s just about football really.”

Burn has also suggested that he would be open to committing himself to the Minstermen beyond the end of his current agreed loan spell on January 6.

“We’ll see how it goes,” he reasoned. “If I’ve been playing well and the team are doing well, I would think about something until the end of the season.

“That will also be determined by the gaffer wanting to keep me.”

Burn has been recruited by City chief Martin Gray with one specific target in mind – to bring an end to a run of 12 consecutive games without a shut-out.

On his hopes for the weeks ahead, the 6ft 1in centre back said: “I’m big, strong, win my headers and like to play football as well but, hopefully, we can keep some clean sheets whilst I’m here. That’s the aim and I’d be delighted if we can do that, because I’m here to stop that run.”

As a former academy team-mate of City left-back David Ferguson, who has dropped down the divisions too following a spell in the Championship with Blackpool, Burn has been impressed with the quality in his new club’s squad and reckons the potential is there to now climb higher than the side’s modest sixth-placed standing.

“I think there’s a great squad here with some talent and, hopefully, we can show that at Boston,” Burn declared. “I played with David Ferguson at youth level for Sunderland and he’s a big player.

“I believe he’s been doing well here and, when we were kids, you could tell he would have a career in the game. I know the club have had a hard time over the last few years, but we’re looking to kick on and push up the table now.”