YORK City striker Liam George has a million reasons to prove that he still has what it takes to play at the highest level.

Having once been touted in the £1million bracket while at Kenilworth Road with Luton, the 24-year-old has endured a monumental fall from grace.

When the big-money deals did not come, George found himself drifting from club to club in the hope of keeping alive his ambitions of breaking into the big time.

It was a far cry from appearing for the Republic of Ireland Under-21s and while George's travels took him around Clydebank, Stevenage, Bury, Boston and St Patricks, he has had to look on while former Emerald Isle team-mates John O'Shea, Gary Doherty and Andy O'Brien cut the mustard in the top-flight.

However, things have now changed for the Luton-born 24-year-old as he returns to the English set-up determined to rebuild his career.

Some encouraging displays in pre-season and a willingness to roll up his shirt sleeves and get stuck in at training has seen player-boss Chris Brass welcome George to the City fold with the hope he can rediscover his old magic.

And George, a player not short of confidence, is determined to make the most of the opportunity.

"I'm delighted to be here," he told the Evening Press.

"The situation in football at the moment is dire and there are no clubs employing anyone, so it is a bonus to come to a decent club with decent staff and get a contract.

"I've been at St Pats during the summer, but I didn't really like it over there - I've always had ambitions to get back into the English game and start climbing up the ladder again.

"The price-tag thing was when I was a little bit younger and these things happen. I want to get on with things now, get back on the ladder and start again.

"I think that that has given me bigger ambitions to play higher, to play at a good level and get my career back on track.

"I had four or five caps for the Republic of Ireland Under-21s and to see some of the lads to go on and do well in the Premiership gives me that extra bit of bite and I think that is what I need."

The City faithful had to wait until the final pre-season outing at Pickering to see George get off the mark, which he did with a brace of goals.

However, the talented frontman is refusing to set any targets for the new campaign.

"If I get a good start here, get into the team and start banging in the goals, then anything can happen," he said.

"I just want to get in the first team and do well, then the goals will come.

"As long as the lads pull together, I just want a decent season.

"It is not just about personal ambition. It's about getting in the team and taking it from there and seeing how it goes.

"I think the lads are great, there is great team spirit and I just think we have got stronger and stronger."