Shaun Tuton is adamant that Chester can mount a serious title challenge and restore their National League status this season.

Signed by Blues managers Anthony Johnson and Bernard Morley after a successful trial spell with the club, the former Barnsley striker has featured prominently in their first two league fixtures this term.

The 26-year-old has been encouraged by his new side's early performances, with an opening day draw against Spennymoor preceding a superb 3-0 victory at Curzon Ashton on Monday night.

That promising early season form has instilled confidence among the Blues squad, with Tuton in bullish mood about Chester's prospects this term.

He said: "All the boys are buzzing and nobody has got nerves or thinking about who we are coming up against, it's more we are going into it as a strong team, working hard.

"The gaffers are setting us individual work and team work so we are going into Saturday's game wanting a minimum of three points.

"We're getting to know each other and how each other play in training so that when it comes to games we are obviously going to get better.

"We've already seen a couple of good performances where we've made and taken chances, so that's only going to get better the more we play together.

"If we can and deliver what the gaffers want from us and stick together both on and off the pitch then I think we can easily win this league."

Early in his career, Tuton's prolific goalscoring record for non-league sides including Matlock Town and Buxton won him a move to National League side Halifax Town.

He netted 10 times in 27 outings for the Shaymen in the 2015/16 National League season, a tally that convinced Barnsley manager Paul Heckingbottom to sign him for the League One club.

With first team opportunities limited in his two year spell in south Yorkshire, loan spells at Grimsby, Barrow and Halifax followed .

Injuries sustained over the last 18 months have curtailed his progress, but the fit-again forward believes he will rediscover his scoring touch with regular game time at Chester.

He said: "Last season I had a couple of injuries, but I'm back and getting fit now. I'm around a good set of lads on and off the pitch so I'm enjoying it now.

"When you haven't been playing much you can lose your sharpness.

"Goals will come and I'm known for scoring goals. It's about getting back playing now and the more games I get under my belt the more goals I'll score. That just comes with it.

"I knew a couple of the players here already, I'd not played with them but I knew them, which helps. I already knew the gaffers and that helps too, so it was an easy decision to come and sign when they asked me to. The more I blend in with the team the better it's going to get for me and the team."

A swift fixture turnaround meant saw Chester make the trip to Curzon Ashton just over 48 hours after their opener against Spennymoor.

Tuton admits that the Monday night fixture took him by surprise, but that the victory at the at the Tameside Stadium was a product of Chester's collective hard work.

"I don't think I've ever done that before. Saturday and Monday games, I didn't expect it" he added.

"Looking at the fixtures I had thought it was Saturday and Tuesday and then I looked again on Saturday night and realised it was Monday game!

"I'd say we weren't as good as we were against Spennymoor on Saturday because it was a bit scrappy at times.

"But it's only the second game of the season. There are a lot of new faces and we're still getting to know each other really and learning each other's game, so it's only going to get better.

"There were a lot of chances in that game, which we've taken and that's down to hard work. There were some good finishes and loads of positives to take into Saturday's game."