YORK City manager Nigel Worthington is relishing a first round Capital One Cup home match with Championship club Burnley.

The Bootham Crescent clash, which will take place in the midweek following the Minstermen’s first League Two contest on Saturday, August 3, pitches Worthington’s team against a Clarets side that finished 11th in English football’s second tier last season – as close to the play-off places, points wise, as they were to the relegation zone.

Burnley are also likely to include their 2012/13 leading marksman Charlie Austin, who netted 28 times in 40 matches, in their ranks for the first match between the two clubs since a 3-3 draw in York on Boxing Day 1998.

Rodney Rowe grabbed a brace on that afternoon with Wayne Hall also on target against a visiting team that featured future Minstermen Chris Brass, Paul Crichton and Peter Swan.

The gap between the former League One adversaries has widened since but Worthington is looking forward to the challenge, saying: “I am very pleased with the draw.

“It’s a Championship team and we are at home, which is always good. It’s a tie to relish.

“They are a very good Championship side with very, very good players like the goalscorer Austin, Martin Paterson and Michael Duff. It will be a good test for us but we will be ready after six weeks of pre-season training.”

Three of the four teams City will entertain during their pre-season programme – Huddersfield, Blackpool and Leicester – will ply their trade in the Championship with Burnley next term.

Worthington reasoned: “Pre-season will let the players see the potential and quality levels of what they will be playing against, so it will be a good exercise for them.”

The game will also provide an added incentive for summer signing Wes Fletcher to force himself into Worthington’s first-team plans for the campaign’s kick off.

Striker Fletcher’s four-year Turf Moor career was limited to just two Capital One Cup substitute outings, amounting to 13 minutes, prior to his release last month and Worthington added: “I am sure, as an ex-player looking at that draw, he will want to prove a point.

“Players always do in that situation but it’s a great match for us early in the season and everybody will be champing at the bit to play a part.”

Burnley boss Sean Dyche has, so far, been prudent in his transfer-market dealings.

Goalkeepers Tom Heaton and Alex Cisak have been recruited from Bristol City and Oldham respectively following the departure of Lee Grant to Derby, Brian Jensen’s retirement and Jon Stewart’s failure to earn a new contract.

Otherwise, the squad is currently similar to that which ended last season with long-serving midfielder Chris McCann and striker Alex MacDonald the only other outfield professionals to be released.

As a player Worthington provided the cross for John Sheridan to score the only goal against Manchester United in the competition’s 1991 final.

He also helped Wednesday reach the 1993 final and was an unused substitute as Leeds lost 3-0 to Aston Villa in the 1996 Wembley showpiece.

Worthington’s record as a manager in the tournament has been less impressive though.

He has yet to progress beyond the third round and, while in charge of Norwich, suffered upsets against the likes of Brentford, Cheltenham and Northampton.

The City boss is not issuing his team any targets ahead of the Burnley match but held up last season’s League Two finalists Bradford as an example of what can be achieved, saying: “I only take one game at a time.

“You get through one and then look at the next one. If you look any further ahead, you can get lost.

“We will still be looking to get as far as we can though. Bradford proved last season what can happen.

“If you set your stall out in every game and get your mindset and team spirit right, you can achieve those sort of things.

“They are obviously a club that are close to home for us and what they did is fresh in everybody’s minds so why not have a go at doing the same as well?

“I was very fortunate to win the competition once and reach the final on two other occasions so I have fond memories of the League Cup but every competition should be treated with respect.

“I will certainly do that in terms of my team selection against Burnley.”