MICKY CUMMINS has insisted that tomorrow's trip to Blyth Spartans is a must win game for York City.

York were beaten 2-1 at Leamington at the weekend in their first game back after isolating for two weeks due to a positive Covid-19 test.

Having played six less games than Vanarama National League North leaders Gloucester City, City find themselves a fair way behind the chasing pack with the games now set to come thick and fast over the festive period.

A visit to rock-bottom Blyth looks to present an ideal chance for the Minstermen to kickstart their season, having only played twice last month.

No side in the division has conceded as many as the Spartans’ 20 goals so far this term and only second-from-bottom have scored fewer than their six goals.

“Yes it is,” said assistant manager Cummins, when asked if the game was a must-win.

“We’ve got to start getting a run together.

“Whether it had been Gloucester, Chester or Blyth in our next game, we need to get started.

“We need some consistency in front of goal, some consistency in dominating games, so we feel it’s about now starting that good run. It just happens to be Blyth.

“There are teams that have traditionally struggled in this league doing ok, so it is an unpredictable season.

“But we need to put that to bed early doors. We need to start quick and fast and impose ourselves on the game.”

Like York last weekend, this is Blyth’s first game back off the back of an enforced period on the sidelines after a positive Covid-19 test. It is situation that Cummins sympathises with.

“It’s tough for them, especially being part-time as well,” he said.

“They’ve got new management, a new coach and they’ve brought a new striker in during the lockdown, so they won’t have had much time to train over lockdown.

“I presume they’ll be doing lots of meetings over Zoom like ourselves.

“We’ve got to start on the front foot, get going really quick and impose ourselves on the game. We’ve got to take the game to them.

“Again, they’re in the Tier 3, so there’s no fans, which is something that we can take advantage of.

“We’ve had the luxury of a few more days (of) training, so we need to be a threat in the sharp end of the pitch.”

Cummins and manager Steve Watson may be forced into another defensive alteration at Croft Park.

Josh King, who himself was filling in for he injured pair Michael Duckworth and Owen Gamble, suffered a knock at Leamington.

“Owen’s had a little setback, so he’s unavailable,” confirmed Cummins. “Josh King also picked up a bit of a niggle at the weekend, so we’re assessing him.

“We’ll give him another 24 hours and assess him tomorrow (Wednesday) morning. We’ve got lads that are adaptable and we’ve got formations, so we can chop and change.

“We’ve got players that are comfortable in many positions so we have a few things in the back of our mind. But we won’t make any definite decisions until we find out tomorrow (Wednesday) morning.”

There was more positive news on striker Jack Redshaw, who could come in for his first York City start.

“He looked sharp again, he’s getting his fitness up and he’s doing a bit extra (in training) and he’s looking good,” added Cummins.

“Again, he is an option to start or he can make an impact off the bench. It’s something we’ll look at and I won’t disclose anything here. He’s certainly firing on all cylinders and he’s one that we’re considering.”