Michael Gash would love to get on the scoresheet against his old club Cambridge United in the FA Cup tomorrow – but concedes he may have to do it from the bench.

The five-goal York City striker, a £55,000 summer capture from Ebbsfleet, returned to first team action against Gateshead on Tuesday night following several weeks out with a broken foot.

Gash scored twice against Cambridge at Bootham Crescent in September, against the club for whom he made only a handful of appearances in the 2006/7 season, before injury struck.

And the 23-year-old, who has never played in the third round of the FA Cup, says he can’t wait for hostilities to start.

“When I was at Cambridge United I don’t believe I got the opportunity to show what I could do,” said Gash. “I was out of favour with the manager and you’ve got to deal with it.

“Going back to my old club you relish the chance to score goals and I can’t wait for the game. I am hoping to score again. We don’t know the team yet but, really, I am looking at trying to come off the bench and score a goal.

“I scored two last time and that was very nice and pleasing but this is a massive game and I don’t really care who scores as long as we can win.”

To get back in the side, Gash will need to see off one of 17-goal striker Richard Brodie or the in-form Michael Rankine.

With Richard Pacquette, who scored a crucial equalising goal against Crewe in the last round of the cup, also waiting in the wings, Gash realises he has got his work cut out.

But, despite having signed as the club’s number one marksman in the summer, he is relishing the competition.

“I was trying to build up a partnership with Richard Brodie and we were starting to play well,” Gash added. “We were both scoring goals and it was very disappointing to break that up.

“Since I broke my foot, Michael Rankine has come in and he been fantastic – both for Brodie and the team. In the last month or so he has been one of our best players.

“It’s going to be very difficult to get a start in the team at the moment.”

Continued Gash: “Everything Brodie touches goes in the back of the net but you want competition to keep you on your toes.

“If you get a chance to play you know you have to perform at a high level to keep those players out of the team.”

Gash said he felt he would need two or three more games before achieving full match fitness but he is determined to be part of the Cambridge experience – and wants City to grasp the opportunity to reach the third round.

“It’s a massive game. It is special for non-league players to reach the third round and it is important for the club,” he said. “There is an opportunity to play one of the biggest teams in the world and everyone is focused, mentally and physically, for Cambridge.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity and everyone is relishing the chance to beat Cambridge.”