YORK City will win the Vanarama National League if they finish above AFC Fylde this season.

That is the view of York captain Sean Newton when discussing the current landscape of the division.

AFC Fylde and York were the bookies' joint favourites for promotion before the campaign started and the former have, so far, lived up to that billing.

After nine league matches, Fylde are one point clear at the top of the table and are the only team in the division yet to lose a game.

The 18 goals they have scored is bettered only by Gateshead and Chorley while Brackley Town are the sole club to have let in fewer than Fylde's seven goals conceded.

By contrast, York are ninth heading into this weekend’s home game against Chester, 11 points adrift of the leaders, after a campaign which has been plagued by injuries to their defenders, including Newton.

“Nothing is won in the first few months, we know that,” insisted Newton.

“A few seasons ago we were unbeaten through October and then we fell to third or second for a while.

“Fylde are flying and I think if you finish above them you definitely win the league.

“But they’ll definitely have a (bad) spell and we’ve hopefully had our spell now.

“We’re starting to get players back fit which makes the squad stronger, even just to have (senior) players (back) on the bench.

“For the young lads, it’s hard to come off the bench, especially when you’re at a club that needs to win, there’s a lot of pressure on them.

“Hopefully we can get everyone back fit and raring to go for the Christmas period, which is massive. That’s crucial for everyone.

“The next three (games) are massive, for me, we need nine points and if we get that we’re flying.”

The Minstermen’s form has picked up in recent weeks, with the four league wins to their name coming in their last five National League North matches.

Coupled with that is their progress in the FA Cup, which has resulted in a run of just one defeat in their previous nine outings.

“Not making excuses, but considering the injuries we’ve had, I think we’ve done well,” Newton added.

“I think we’ve had three midfielders in the back four virtually all season, for at least over half the games anyway.

“I think we’ve managed things well. There’s games we’ve lost that I think we shouldn’t have lost.

“Listen, we’re not happy with where we are but, in the grand scheme of things with the injuries that we’ve got, I don’t think we’re in a bad position, especially if we can go on a run.

“The next three league games are massive. We’ll try and take as many points as we can from those games and see where we’re at.”

While frustrated not to be involved, Newton’s knee injury has meant he has been able to help out behind in the scenes with the first-team and youth team.

“I’ve enjoyed it and it’s something that I definitely want to do when I’m finished, I want to go into coaching,” he explained.

“I’m doing a degree at the minute in sports coaching. I’ve enjoyed it and the gaffer has asked my opinion on things I’ve seen.

“Whether he uses it or not, that’s up to him, but it’s another pair of eyes, and the more of those you have, the more it will help the team.

“I’ve enjoyed it. But it’s not as good as playing.”