RETURNING captain Steve McNulty reckons the televised FA Cup tie against Stockport County will be a good chance to prove York City's promotion credentials.

The Minstermen welcome Stockport to Bootham Crescent in the fourth qualifying round - the final hurdle before the first round proper - for a 5.20pm kick off, shown live on BT Sport.

Stockport were promoted to the National League as champions of the National League North last season - and with York hoping to achieve a similar feat this term, McNulty believes Saturday could be a good opportunity.

"That is our aim," he said. "We'd be lying if we said it wasn't - promotion is our aim this season.

"It's a chance for us as a group of players to go and show that we can hold our own at that level."

When asked who the favourite would be for the tie, he joked: "I'm not a betting man so I couldn't tell you.

"It'll be a good game," he added.

"They got promoted last season. It'll be a great test for us and one we'll be going into confident.

"We'll prepare right all week and hopefully go out there and give a good account of ourselves on the telly."

National League North leaders York's most recent outing was a 1-1 draw at AFC Telford United - and McNulty's first appearance since injuring his hamstring against Gateshead on August 26.

He laughed that he was "tired" after his 90 minutes on the pitch and admitted: "I was sloppy myself at the back today but I haven't played for five weeks and it's probably going to take me a couple of games to get back into it.

"It's amazing how fast you lose your match fitness but it'll come back and we'll march up the league.

"I've been chomping at the bit for a couple of weeks now," he added.

"I want to play every week if selected.

"It's tough and you do lose match fitness so you've got to count on your experience and your positional play.

"I'm an honest man and today I was caught out of position a couple of times, but that will come back with more games."

York were not at their best for the game but took the lead through Jordan Burrow 10 minutes into the second half. The advantage lasted only a matter of minutes as James McQuilkin rose to head Telford level.

The attacking spark did not seem to be there for the Minstermen and, though they spurned a couple of decent chances, they did look as fluent or threatening a force as in other games this season, and could have been made to pay by the then 16th-placed hosts.

On the game, McNulty said: "On the whole, I think it was a fair result. We defended sloppily at times and going forward I don't think we had the cutting edge we've had in the last couple of weeks.

"There's disappointment in the dressing room but we've got to take it on the chin.

"At the end of the day, we've come away from home and got a point. It's not the best performance of the season but we take it and move on now."

The veteran centre-back has also hailed the squad he has joined this season.

He said: "It's a club on the up and we hope we can give the fans what they deserve.

"The young lads help me. I talk to them and they talk to me.

"No one's ever the finished article.

"If they say something to me, I take it on board, if I say something to them, they'll take it on board.

"They all want to learn and be successful.

"You do get some young lads in squads I've been in where they just look right through you but they're a great bunch."