NEW signing Mackenzie Heaney says his confidence is sky-high heading into York City's game against his former side.

The 22-year-old put pen to paper earlier this week following a successful trial period with City, which culminated in an impressive debut outing and free kick goal at Whitby Town last Saturday.

On Sunday (2pm), the Minstermen welcome Newcastle United to the LNER Community Stadium for their second pre-season friendly.

“It’s put my confidence through the roof,” Heaney, pictured (Tom Poole), said of his debut.

“I want to do well because it’s my old club but also the management team’s put a lot of faith in me.

“I want to repay that and hopefully we can give a good account of ourselves against Newcastle.”

Heaney was released by then Magpies manager Rafa Benitez in 2018. It was a knock to the youngster from Newcastle, he admitted, but he is looking up again after coming to York in fine form.

“It took me a while to get my head around it but when I did, I think it was the best thing for me to leave the club and have a fresh start somewhere else,” he said.

Asked if Sunday is a chance to show Newcastle what they are missing, he said: “That’s the plan.

“But I’ve got a lot of respect for everyone at Newcastle. My time there was unbelievable and I wouldn’t change it for anything.

“It’s a new beginning for me and I can’t wait to get started.”

Though only 22, Heaney has a decent amount of experience under is belt, having earned Scotland and England junior caps, but knows he can learn plenty from the more experienced contingent at York.

He has also had a loan spell at Icelandic side Grindavik, whose general manager - a Newcastle fan - got in touch with Heaney through social media site Instagram. He made half a dozen appearances during the six-week loan, scoring twice and creating three goals.

The attack-minded midfielder had been at City’s Wigginton Road training ground with the younger lads before the start of this month, and impressed boss Steve Watson with his attitude to fitness.

Heaney, who says he is not afraid to put in the hard yards, feels he has joined a good group.

“There’s a good mix of older lads and younger lads, lads who drive at the defence and lads who defend,” he said.

“We can definitely kick on.

“The gaffer told us, ‘There’s only one thing on our mind and that’s to win the league’ and I think we will achieve it.”