SEAN Newton is refusing to make any predictions in terms of York City’s potential during the final three months of the season.

The Minstermen will move within six points of the play-off positions if they can defeat Hereford at home tomorrow night before then entertaining third-bottom Ashton United on Saturday at Bootham Crescent.

But Newton is wary of any talk about what can still be targeted this term, having seen the team fall way short of past forecasts.

“We can’t get ahead of ourselves and just need to focus on the next game because, every time we look at what could be achieved, we get nowhere near it,” the ex-England C international reasoned.

“I don’t feel we can start thinking about finishing in the top ten or seven, but we know this is a crazy league and anything is possible if you win three or four on the run. Curzon Ashton have shown that by going from near the bottom to just outside the play-offs (after winning five of their last six games).”

Newton has also suggested that the manner of Saturday’s victory at Alfreton Town, when the team fought back from 2-1 down in the 85th minute to secure maximum points, should provide a great lift for morale at a club bidding for their first back-to-back league triumphs in 13 months.

“A last-minute victory is sometimes better than winning 1-0 after scoring on 12 minutes, because the buzz and confidence boost is bigger,” the 30-year-old Liverpudlian argued. “Now, we’ve got to start well, as we did at Alfreton, but cut out the bad spell in the second half which we always seem to have.”

Newton played at centre back in Steve Watson’s first game in charge - the 3-1 defeat at Stockport.

He was then an unused substitute during the 4-1 home loss to Chorley, before scoring the opening goal at Alfreton after earning a recall at left-wing back - a position he feels is well-suited to his natural attacking instincts.

“My game is better when I’m in the final third,” Newton declared. “I like to think I can put in a good delivery and score goals.

“I played there a lot when I first came to the club under Gary Mills when we were unlucky not to stay up in the Conference and I enjoy it. I think it’s a better position for me, because I can get involved in the game more going forward.”

Newton finished last term as the team’s second-top scorer after netting ten times, having played at centre back, full-back, wing-back, in midfield and as a striker during the final two matches,

He is currently fourth in this season’s goal charts with a tally of four placing him just one behind strikers Macaulay Langstaff and Jake Wright and Newton admitted he would like to emulate his 2017/18 haul.

“I got double figures last season and have got a few this season without playing as much,” he pointed out. “Even if I was playing as a left-sided centre-half, I would still target double figures, because there are chances from direct free kicks and corners as well.

“It’s something I always want to achieve and, if I keep getting picked, I will try and score more.

“The gaffer wants his wing-backs to get forward and make runs beyond and I was just pleased on Saturday when the shot went in, because I’d have probably got a lot of abuse off Jordan (Burrow) if it hadn’t., as he was probably in a better position.”