YORK City club captain Peter Swan today issued a defiant pledge to fans from the Bootham Crescent treatment table - 'We will turn things around'.

The centre-back, currently recovering from a knee operation which has forced him out for all but two games, urged fans not to panic at City's disappointing start to the campaign.

"We have not had the best of starts and after having that good little run we need to turn it around again - but we will get there," he said.

Swan believes City's desire to stem the flow of goals conceded had in some way added to their problems.

After conceding 11 in their opening three matches, City then let in just two goals as they went five games unbeaten before slipping to successive defeats in their last two outings.

"When teams go through a period like we are doing at the moment you are trying so hard not to concede that you end up creating problems for yourself and let teams come on to you too much.

"We need to string some results together like we did at the end of last season and we have got to shore up the defence and stop conceding goals again. If we can get a couple of 1-0 wins we can go on from there and build up confidence."

Swan reasoned injuries to key players had also done little to help City's cause.

"Losing Peter Duffield and the injuries we have at the moment hasn't helped," he said.

"The gaffer is obviously looking to bring a player in and we just have to be patient.

"We will get things turned around once we have got the injuries out of the way. We just need to be patient."

Swan admitted his frustration at the poor results was made worse by his inability to play his part in turning things around.

He underwent key-hole surgery on tears to cartilage on both sides of the knee last month and hopes to start running again within the next two to three weeks.

If all goes to plan, Swan reckons he will be back in the selection frame in four weeks' time.

"It is frustrating to be on the sidelines when you want to help but I cannot rush back," he said.

"My knee was a bit sore at the start of the season and I shouldn't have perhaps played but everyone wants to do their bit.

"The injury is not too bad; it is coming on slowly but that is how I will have to deal with it."