YORK City loan star David Tutonda believes the Minstermen have a better group of players than the promotion-chasing Newport County AFC squad he was a member of last season.

Tutonda will return to Rodney Parade tomorrow (kick-off 1pm) to tackle a home team currently bottom of the Football League – three points adrift of their 19th-placed visitors.

The Exiles narrowly missed out on the League Two play-offs last season and, with that experience in mind, the Cardiff City wing-back reckons his new team can eclipse that achievement despite a modest start to the new campaign.

He told the York Press: "We're a really good team and just need time to gel. Then, the results will definitely improve.

"This squad is better than the one I was a part of at Newport. The scorelines might not reflect that yet, but they will come.

"We're not worried because we have been performing well and that's the most important thing. I'm hoping we can get to the play-offs, if not automatic promotion, because I genuinely think we are a good enough team to do so."

And Tutonda is in no mood to show his old friends any mercy, adding: "I still have a couple of mates at Newport and I've told them we won't be taking it easy on them. We can't be the first team they beat this season and that won't be the case.

"If we go there with a positive attitude and take our chances the game will be ours. They will be hard-working, physical and very organised and have a good manager.

"The lads who are still there from my spell can also play football, but I think we have what it takes to beat them."

But Tutonda says the Exiles do have their threats, adding: "Aaron Collins – the young lad up top – has pace, skill and finishing ability for his age, but we can keep him quiet no problem.

"Mark Byrne is also a good player in the centre of midfield, as is Yan Klukowski. They will all look to cause us problems but we'll be all right."

Tutonda scored one of his two goals in 12 outings for Newport against the Minstermen and, while still waiting to open his account for Russ Wilcox's men, he promised: "I'm still getting into the routine of things here, but the goals will definitely come for me at York."