LAST season's Player of the Year Nathan Tyson has admitted he's got a real fight on his hands just to nail a first team-place this season.

Tyson, whose 22 goals last term has attracted the interest of Manchester City and Luton, says winning a starting berth this season will be an achievement with the quality of the new signings manager John Gorman has brought in.

Blues have plenty of attacking options this season with the arrival of new recruits Tommy Mooney, Charlie Griffin and Kevin Betsy alongside the revitalised Ian Stonebridge and Jonny Dixon.

Tyson said: "No-one can take anything for granted. No-one's place is secure including mine.

"My place is not secure no matter what anyone thinks. Last season was last season. You are only as good as your last game and we all start again now.

"I've still got a hell of a lot of work to do to get my standard up to last season. I want to score 22 goals again but the first thing I have do is to make sure I get in the side."

Tyson, Mooney, Betsy, Dixon and Stonebridge all scored in the 7-2 rout of Basingstoke on Tuesday and, with only eight days before the big kick off against Carlisle United, competition is fierce.

Tyson said: "Everyone wants to be involved. The lads are gelling really well.

"The bookies have got us down as second favourites to win the league but at this stage I would settle for a play-off place. Anything above that would be an added bonus."

Blues boss Gorman has admitted he still has plenty of thinking to do before naming his team for the Carlisle curtain-raiser.

Gorman said: "At the moment everyone is a first teamer.

"We've got a lot of excellent players. I'm very happy with what we've got. We've got the makings of a good team. We've got good strikers, midfielders who can get into the box, a full back who can get forward like a winger and a centre half who can score goals.

"I like what I'm seeing but I know that pre-season doesn't count for anything."