New York City goalkeeper Tom Evans has told manager Billy McEwan that promotion is just 20 clean sheets away.

Evans spent nine years keeping goals out at Scunthorpe United and has pledged to use all that experience in front of the York City net to get the Minstermen back into the League.

"I said to the manager that if we keep 20 clean sheets, that should be promotion," said the 29-year-old. "If we keep a few less clean sheets and get promotion anyway, I'll still be happy.

"Promotion is without a doubt the main thing and I'll do anything I can to play my part in that."

Evans came to York after being released from the Iron after nearly 300 appearances for the League One side.

A trial period impressed McEwan and now he is officially the club's number one - and hoping it will stay that way for as long as possible having made the League to non-League switch.

He said: "York have actually got better facilities than I would have expected but both teams are very professional so there's no real difference between the two.

"I had been training with them for a while and was offered a contract.

"It's a good club and I was impressed by the facilities and the ambition.

"At the end of the day I could go somewhere higher up and not play but I'd rather be at York playing every week."

One man who could get in the way of that is former youth team custodian Arran Reid, who has been handed the number 13 shirt.

But Evans is keen to show the club and the fans who's on top from day one against Exeter on Saturday.

He said: "I'm really looking forward to the season starting because - if I get picked - I like to play games and it's what I'm here for."

Evans played in all of York's pre-season games and believes he and the defence have the makings of a solid unit.

He added: "The best game we played in pre-season was against Leeds United. Yes, they were young, but they ran around and made difficult runs.

"Communication-wise it takes a few games to get that relationship going but apart from a couple of instances, it's going really well and things are looking good."