Because whilst Johnson saw most of last season as more about personal development, now a second straight promotion is driving him.

The Minstermen have made an excellent start to life back in the Football League, and coach Scott Lindsey has long maintained he just wants them to be in the top half at spring to push for promotion.

But 21-year-old centre-back Johnson is more demanding still, and unhappy the last three matches have all ended 1-1.

Lindsey was frustrated by what he felt was a negative line of questioning in his press conference to preview the visit of the Valiants, but the high expectations do not just come from some on the terraces, but the dressing room too.

“We're unbeaten at home (in the league) at the minute but actually, I would be quite disappointed that we've had a few draws,” said Johnson, who made his loan from Sunderland permanent in the summer.

“Yes, it's points on the board but ultimately, because teams are so strong at home and every time you go away it's going to be really tough you're almost thinking we want maximum points at home.

“Last season, with Rochdale, there was a constant pressure to win, and I feel like both teams kept each other going whereas here, with it being so tight, every game seems a little bit harder because you feel like that team could possibly beat you.

“But ultimately it's our backyard and we've got so much ability in the team to really progress and push on.

“Being sixth is great, but want to be in that top three.”

And Lindsey revealed Johnson made his frustrations known after Tuesday's game at home to Accrington Stanley, where it took a 90th-minute equaliser from the in-form Ollie Pearce to rescue a point.

Lindsey made what went on behind closed doors public because he took it as a sign of a healthy dressing room, rather than a negative.

“They're disappointed when we don't win,” said the coach, who quite rightly went out of his way to emphasise how good a start to the season it has been for his newly-promoted side.

“They're disappointed when we drop points.

“Zach Johnson's a real example of that. He came in after the game on Tuesday night and he had a five-minute rant, a young lad like that showing a real desire to be disappointed from dropping points.

“I kind of let him float, let him go. Let him have a rant.

“I don't mind it. He's a great pro, a good lad. He speaks well, understands the game, trains well and plays well. He's exactly what any manager would want in their team.”

The pressure Rochdale put on York last season, winning 106 points yet missing out on the only automatic promotion spot, means Johnson and his team-mates from last season are well used to must-win games, and he sees Saturday's as another.

“Getting a point against Newport, they're unbeaten at home as well and we had 10 men for 70 minutes of the game (after a red card for Jovan Malcolm), it just shows a different side to York,” he said.

“It's great character, great determination.

“But ultimately, when we draw at Newport, even though we were 1-0 up, I feel like to take a massive positive step in the league, we've got to get three points against Accrington Stanley. The fact that we got a point is very frustrating, especially due to it being a set-piece (that Stanley scored from).

“So now it has to be three points against Port Vale. There's no other way about it.

“There's three points between us and 17th so if you can make that gap go bigger and then push on, you can look like a threat in this league, and that's what we want.”

Johnson says his mindset as a York player changed late last season.

“Coming as a loan player last season, I never really looked at promotion,” he admitted. “I looked at it from a selfish point of view. I wanted to get my games and develop individually.

“It was only until sort of the last few games where I really clicked with the lads. Then because of York and the fans and the way that they took to me, I really wanted to get them into the Football League.

“When I had the opportunity to come back here, it was just a no-brainer for me, and I've loved it since coming back here as well.

“Now I've got to look at myself as a League Two player and you want to try and climb up the ranks as quickly as possible.

“The more I think that I'm a League Two player in a League Two team trying to get us higher, I feel like that can keep me grounded and hopefully keep improving my performances.”

York's injury list remains unchanged, with their medium-term absentees moving closer to full fitness but not yet ready to return to League Two football.