YORK City boss Nigel Worthington believes the club's next three matches could prove whether his side can be promotion candidates this season.

The Minstermen travel to top-of-the-table Burton on Saturday at the start of a testing eight days that will also see them host Luton Town on Tuesday night and Southend next weekend.

Like City, Burton and Southend both reached the SkyBet League Two play-offs last term, while Luton were runaway Conference champions.

On his side's mid-September schedule, Worthington said: "If you want to be at the top end of the division, play the big matches and put a marker down as to what we are about as a team and a club, I don't think there are any better games than the next three to really go and show if we will be in contention, even at this early stage of the season."

Midfielder Tom Platt has returned to training following his ankle injury and might feature on the bench at the Pirelli Stadium, where Worthington expects a stern challenge against the division's early pacesetters.

He added: "They have had a very good start. We have had them watched and I've watched the DVDs.

"They are well-organised and work hard without the ball, whilst also being neat and tidy with it. But, if we do what we have been working on in training, we can get a good result."

Worthington also revealed that he has placed all thoughts on entering the loan market on hold, following last weekend's 3-2 victory at Stevenage.

"I've not made any phone calls this week and it's up to everybody here to step up to the plate," Worthington said. "Only 11 players can start any game, so it's up to them to make their mark and, then, if anybody else gets their opportunity, it's up to them to take it.

"While that's the case and we are picking up points, we can stay as we are. If Steve (Torpey) and myself then think we need to freshen and strengthen the squad, we will do what we need to do, with the help of the chairman but we won't be panicking."