YORK City boss Billy McEwan believes new striker Richard Brodie will be hungry to impress because of the manner in which he has entered the professional game.

Brodie, 19, signed for the Minstermen this week from Newcastle Benfield, where he had combined playing for the Northern League club with serving an apprenticeship as a joiner.

And McEwan believes his working background will stand him in good stead after turning full-time with the KitKat Crescent club.

Brodie will have to wait for his first-team chance as he was suspended for this afternoon's home match with Tamworth but McEwan said: "He's been used to getting up every day at half six, working a good shift, going training two nights a week and playing on a Saturday.

"He's a hungry fighter and I am sure the fans will take to him when they see him play. I sometimes think players that have come through academies are too pampered and might have less desire.

"I was on a building site when I was 16 and it didn't do me any harm. I got up at the hours Richard has been doing and then went training in my boiler suit with Motherwell and played for peanuts.

"When I got into the pro game I thought I had won the lottery because it's a great life but you have to keep working at it and people like Geoff Horsfield, who used to be a bricklayer but ended up in the Premiership, are great examples of how you can get to the top if you want it enough."