SEAN Newton wants to hit double figures in a season for only the second time in his career.

The York City midfielder grabbed his fifth goal of the campaign during Saturday’s 2-1 triumph at Darlington and is targeting a tally he last achieved at the age of 20 when he spent a season on loan from Chester with Droylsden.

That achievement came in 2009 at the National League North level City are currently plying their trade in and he was employed in defence at the time.

The Liverpool-born 29-year-old remains a distant second to 24-goal Jon Parkin in the Minstermen’s goal charts but, on his hopes of emulating his feat almost a decade ago, Newton said: “We need goals from other areas, aside from Jon Parkin.

“Although he does seem to score every week, there will be games he doesn’t and others need to step up to the plate, including myself and I should have had more goals this season. I should have had two against Leamington and I’ve hit the post against FC United and Harrogate as well so, if I’m being brutally honest, I should be on double figures, which is frustrating for me.

“But the best thing about football is there’s always a chance to score in the next game and Saturday’s goal will give me confidence. I’ve hit double figures once, as a left-back funnily enough, when I was with Droylsden at this level.

“I was also on penalties then, but I don’t think there’s any chance I’ll be getting them off Jon. I might ask him if he misses one, but I don’t want him to - I want him to keep scoring and getting us the wins.”

Newton returned to City’s starting line-up, having missed three matches following an ankle problem he suffered during the mid-December 2-1 FA Trophy defeat at Kidderminster.

But the City skipper hailed the efforts of physio Ian Gallagher in getting him back out on the pitch at Black Meadows ahead of schedule.

“I’ve never really been injured much in my career and don’t want to be,” Newton declared. “The physio has had me working hard over the last two weeks, doing double sessions.

“It was meant to be four weeks before I’d be back playing, but he got me back in just under three. That was all down to him and I can’t speak highly enough of him for that, because it was a big match that I was desperate to get back for.

“It was a great atmosphere and I was just delighted to send our fans home with three points.”

Newton also feels, though, that his enforced rest might have proven beneficial, with his form failing to meet his own standards, prior to the injury.

“I don’t think I was having stinkers, but I was up and down, playing well in some games and not so well in others,” he confessed. “At Darlington, though, I felt I had a lot of energy getting up and down.

“I also got my goal and didn’t give the ball away much. There’s nothing worse than being injured as a player, but the two weeks off might have done me some good.

“I’ve come back with the bit between my teeth and want to prove that I should be in the team.”