HOPE Akpan and Sherwin Seedorf are set for their City introduction in the pre-season trip to York tomorrow.

Michael Collins felt midfielder Akpan needed a bit more training work after joining his new club a week after they had come back.

Wolves winger Seedorf was among those who were not risked at Guiseley because of slight knocks.

But both are expected to appear at Bootham Crescent where Collins is looking for City to step it up.

He said: “We’ve got to be mindful that we get bodies through and manage the squad, especially with the difference this year with the (transfer) window closing so soon.

“We’re probably where we expect to be fitness-wise but nowhere near where we want to be.

“But we’ve got to manage it. I’d be a worried man if we were absolutely at it now and dead on August 4 for the first league game.

“It’s good the players got 45 minutes under their belt at Guiseley and we’ll really start stepping it up now and driving on with the games coming up against York and Sheffield United.

“There’s no time to hang around. It’s full on now all the way through.

“It’s like the World Cup. Football’s been there but we’ve waiting for our games to come around.

“It’s here now, we’re off and August 4 will quickly come around.”

City switched the entire team round at half-time on Tuesday and are likely to do something similar against another National League North opponent.

“I’d imagine it will be the same and we’ll ease them through it,” said Collins.

“We should get a good chance to have a look at Hope and Sherwin back in the mix. But we’ll just refocus and keep going.

“There’s so much to work on. There are a lot of messages we still haven’t fed into them because we don’t want to overdo it too soon.

“It’s a process and we’re aware of that. But it’s on to York now and we’ll keep building.”

First-year pro Reece Powell scored City’s goal in their 2-1 loss at Nethermoor. Collins feels the pre-season exposure for some of the youngsters at his disposal will prove invaluable.

He added: “There were some good things for our younger lads to learn.

“Reece got a goal and then at the end of the game he rolled a loose pass into midfield and we got countered.

“He has to wise up to men’s football because if you do that in League One, you get punished time and time again.

“For their second goal, Thomas (Isherwood) did well to get back into position and then didn’t put enough pressure on the ball.

“These are good learning tools and you can work with the players. We’ve got a lot of lads in there still developing.

“It’s good for them to play in these sort of games when it’s a step-up from (under) 23 encounters.”

City gave two trialists a run-out at Guiseley, goalkeeper Ryan Huddart and midfielder Luca Colville. Collins may run the rule over others as pre-season progresses.

He said: “Like any club, every now and then you have a look at one or two bodies who are unattached to see if they can bring something to the squad.

“But we’re quite clear on the kind of recruitment we want going forward.

“Things are happening in the background that we’re working on.

“I’ve said all along, if we get the ones we’re after I’ll be very confident we’ll go into the season in a strong position.”