The York City captain was forced out of his side's 2-0 defeat at Kidderminster due to a strange illness that saw him shed eight pounds – but when he was asked to come back into the fold for York's game against Stevenage last Sunday he didn't have to think twice.

Defender Greaves played the full 90 minutes in a thrilling 3-3 draw at Broadhall Way and admitted it was one of his tougher afternoons.

He said: "It was good to come back from the illness but I was flagging after an hour of that Stevenage game – the last 30 minutes were a real struggle.

"I don't think it was the best performance of my life but I gave it my all and we came out with a deserved point. I'll be honest, though, I couldn't wait for the final whistle."

The 33-year-old City skipper was at a loss to explain what caused the mystery bug, saying it was one of the strangest things that he had experienced in his 12-year career.

"I've no idea why I came down with it," Greaves said.

"I don't think I ate anything dodgy so it might not have been food poisoning that did it – it might just have been one of those things.

"I just felt really weak and I couldn't hold any food down."

Food poisoning or not, City sorely missed their captain against Kidderminster – slumping to only their second league defeat of the season.

The Minstermen currently lie mid-table in the Blue Square Premier, but Greaves insists the side is capable of better.

He said: "This team is definitely capable of a top-five finish – that's what we've got to aim for.

"It has been a decent start but we've gone off the boil a bit recently.

"We've drawn too many games. it's difficult to get a decent rhythm going when you keep drawing and we need to get more points on the board.

"It's not doom and gloom by any means, but our recent form could have been better. We've got to really get going now and kick-start our season."

Greaves wants to make sure York don't fall into the same trap as last season – when they finished 14th in the league.

The KitKat Crescent outfit have yet to lose at home this time out, but according to their captain have let in too many goals.

Greaves said: "We've got some players who can get the ball down on the deck and play decent football, but we need to keep it a bit tighter at the back.

"We played Stevenage off the park last week and the 3-3 result didn't reflect our domination.

"On the whole the defence has been pretty solid so far but we've leaked a couple of unnecessary goals recently.

"We seem to be scoring the same number of goals that we are conceding so if we tighten things up at the back the results should come."

Greaves was released by Blue Square Premier side Burton Albion at the end of last season and City snapped him up on a free transfer.

The experienced defender had previously played 177 games for home-town club Hull City between 1996 and 2002 before moving on to pastures new at Boston United – where he made 158 appearances.

And he says the atmosphere at York is as good as any he has experienced.

He said: "The place is feeling good at the moment and we fancy our chances in the league this year.

"It's only early on in the season but we need to turn a few decent performances into a more consistent run of results.

"It's all well and good saying we're going to do it, but actually doing it is the hard part."

City travel to the Racehorse ground on Tuesday night to face fellow mid-table side Wrexham, who York have already beaten in the league this season.

Greaves got the only goal of the game the last time the two clubs met and hopes history can be repeated.

He said: "Hopefully the result will be the same as last time.

"But I've got bad memories of the Racehorse ground – the last time I was there I got relegated with Boston so let's hope I can banish a few demons.

"It was nice to score against them last time but Tuesday will be a different game.

"We need to get some form going and let's hope we can start there."

Meanwhile, York released 20-year-old midfielder Jimmy Beadle last week after the player's loan spell at Whitby Town ended.

Beadle had been limited to just one substitute appearance for City this season and Whitby are keen to offer the youngster a permanent deal.

"These things happen in football and I wish Jimmy all the best," said Greaves.

"He's a good footballer and a nice lad so hopefully he can get some games under his belt at Whitby and go on to play at a higher level.

"Jimmy's only young and has the potential to become a good player. I hope he does well."