YORK City skipper Russell Penn is relishing the battle to stay up every bit as much as the promotion challenges he has embraced during the past three seasons.

Penn captained City in the Sky Bet League Two play-offs last May, having also secured back-to-back top-seven finishes with Cheltenham prior to his move to Bootham Crescent.

With 13 fixtures left to play ahead of tonight’s trip to Cambridge, the Minstermen are currently hovering above the Football League drop zone on goal difference but Penn has no intention of plying his trade in the Conference six years after leaving that level behind when he moved on from Kidderminster.

The 29-year-old midfielder said: “I love playing games of football and this part of the season is when you earn your money.

“We will be playing teams down there who are all fighting for the same thing but I’m really looking forward to it.

“It’s a different season compared to what I’ve experienced recently, but you have to enjoy it and thrive.

“At this stage of the year, there will be some tired bodies and some teams with nothing to play for who are already looking forward to the end of the season.

“Then, there are teams, like us, who are really in the mix and we have got to be full of enthusiasm and fight to get something.

“I definitely don’t want to go back to the Conference and will do my best to make sure that doesn’t happen.”

Penn’s former club Cheltenham are also embroiled in the survival dogfight but Penn admitted he would have no regrets if City stay up at his old side’s expense.

“If that happens, then great,” he reasoned. “As long as we get over the line, that’s all that matters.

“I’m a York City player now and the past is in the past. It would be great if both clubs can stay up but that’s the last thing on my mind.”

City travel to Cambridge with just one victory from their last ten games and a win double for the Minstermen during their next two matches - a trip to AFC Wimbledon is next up on Saturday - would land punters £80 from a £5 stake.

But Penn insists City can upset the odds, adding: “Whether you’re playing home or away, it’s all the same. It’s 11 v 11.

“Every game is hard this season and it does not matter where teams are in the table. Tranmere lost to Cheltenham at the weekend after beating Shrewsbury the week before and that’s what this league’s about, so why can’t we win the next two games?

“That would be tough but I’m confident we can do.”

Penn went on to admit, meanwhile, that leaving Bootham Crescent behind for consecutive fixtures might not be a bad thing, considering the state of the playing surface.

“We’ve all moaned about the pitch this season,” he said. “It’s the same for both teams, but it doesn’t help some of our players’ style of play.

“There’s no excuses because it’s been like that all season. It’s not the greatest but that’s part and parcel of York City this season.

“You just have to get on with it, but we’re looking forward to two away games now.”

Penn has been impressed, meanwhile, by on-loan Middlesbrough teenager Brad Halliday’s transition from right-back to midfield alongside him during the last four matches.

“It’s difficult for Brad in there when he’s played most of his games at full-back but it’s just a matter of trying to get to grips with how we want to play with him in the middle and I think he’s been great,”

Penn explained. “He’s got a lot of energy and enthusiasm and he’s learning very quickly because he’s got a good head on his shoulders.”