Adam Hinshelwood considers transfer movement after York City defeat

One question posed to the York manager was whether a fresh energy to the squad would be needed for the run in of the National League campaign, after City slumped to a disappointing 2-1 defeat at Braintree Town on Saturday.

Hinshelwood admitted that whilst there was a conversation to be had about any potential incomings, with the deadline for the fifth tier officially on Thursday, that he also is keen to protect his players after a defeat meant that Barnet ran clear by 14 points.

York will soon be boosted by the return of Dipo Akinyemi, who is back in full training, whilst Cam John and Marvin Armstrong missed out on the squad at Braintree to be rested for Rochdale, on Tuesday night at the Crown Oil Arena (7.45pm).

Therefore Hinshelwood isn’t necessarily rushing to bring in new faces, but is instead focusing on getting the best out of his current squad.

“It’s a conversation to be had. Whether that will happen or not, I don’t know,” Hinshelwood admitted on potential incomings.

“We’ve got Dipo back available, we wanted to rest Cam John because he struggled with a hernia so he can’t play Saturday to Tuesday, so we were trying to save him and Marv.

“We thought that his [Armstrong] legs would be important, again if he plays Saturday to Tuesday with the amount of running he does, it would be difficult.

“He’s fine, there’s just been a couple of things that I won’t go into, but he knows about and we’ve spoken about which he needs to tidy up on.

“He’ll be back available in force for Tuesday for sure.

“We’ve got players in the building and it’s about sticking together, not just bringing players in for the sake of it.

“It’s down to us to work with the players we’ve got and try to get the best out of them, because I don’t think enough of our players at the moment are showing their best.

“That’s the thing, we’ve got to raise standards which is so important.

“At the moment I think we’re just accepting average at times and we’ve got to demand more from ourselves.”

Hinshelwood also discussed the potential impact a new signing could have to his current group of players, and whether it could provide a needed lift, or if it could have a negative impact.

The City boss also called for his players to be much tougher when they take to the field, using his own experience as a player as an example for what’s needed from the players.

Hinshelwood explained: “It [a new signing boost] can do, but it can have the opposite effect as well.

“I think the character of the person is crucial, having the right characters in the building.

“I think that we’ve got real nice group but when they cross that white line on days like today, they’re a bit too nice.

“It was the complete opposite when I crossed that white line, I was horrible and did all that I could to win the game.

“There were no friends, we wanted the three points, we came off and we shook hands knowing that you gave it your all.

“That’s the kind of mentality we want from the team.”

It’s a quick turnaround for York, who will have the chance to respond to the defeat at Braintree as quickly as Tuesday.

Next up for Hinshelwood’s side is a trip over the Pennines and into Rochdale, with City keen to ‘bounce back’.

“We’ve got to bounce back and we’ve got to give a better account of ourselves.

“We seem to do it, we respond, but is it in us to do it week in, week out?

“Grit, determination, defend your box, win your headers, win your tackles, win your second balls, all that side of the game which has become so important in the last few weeks with the pitches and everything.

“We’ve got to make sure we keep doing that side of it, because it’s so important.”