YORK City boss Russ Wilcox is delighted to have fended off interest from higher-division rivals to buy Frickley Athletic striker Reece Thompson.

Wilcox has agreed an undisclosed fee for the 21-year-old attacker, who has arrived at Bootham Crescent on a two-year deal with the club having an option of a further 12-month extension.

A sell-on clause has also been inserted into the transfer to compensate Frickley should he be sold by City in the future.

Thompson, who netted 16 times in 32 games for Evo-Stik League premier division outfit Frickley after leaving Retford United last term, scored a spectacular goal as a Minstermen trialist during last week's 2-1 friendly victory over Newcastle.

His performance also attracted overtures from Bradford City boss Phil Parkinson, who was in the crowd to run the rule over the hosts ahead of next week's Capital One Cup clash at Bootham Crescent.

On trumping the Bantams and other suitors, Wilcox said: "It's really pleasing because we've had to fight off a lot of competition from other clubs, including a few from League One as well but the fact that Reece was adamant that he wants to come and play for York City helped us get the deal over the line.

"He enjoyed his two games for us against Leeds and Newcastle and likes our fantastic training facilities and the coaching he will be receiving. He's looking forward to starting his professional career and didn't want to be shoved into somebody else's under-21 squad.

"I'm not saying that would have been the case at another club but he knows he will go straight into our first-team squad with an opportunity to kick on in his career."

Wilcox is also strongly considering a full professional debut for Thompson during Saturday's Sky Bet League Two curtain-raiser at Wycombe Wanderers, where attacking trio Jake Hyde, Michael Coulson and Emile Sinclair are not expected to feature, having failed to kick a ball in any of City's pre-season friendlies due to injury.

"He's got a good chance of being involved against Wycombe," Wilcox revealed. "We missed the work ethic he showed against Newcastle at Halifax on Saturday and he's fit and ready to go, as he showed when he caused problems against Premier League and Championship opposition for us."

Should he start at Adams Park, Thompson would be expected to line up alongside fellow summer signing Vadaine Oliver, with Wilcox believing the duo bear all the hallmarks of a classic front-two partnership.

"It's the old little-and-large combination that has worked for many a year," the City boss ventured. "Sunderland had it with Niall Quinn and Kevin Phillips where you've got a big striker to win the ball in the air and somebody with a bit of pace and the ability to finish. Without working together on the training ground, they both did well and complemented each other against Newcastle.

"We've also got Jake Hyde and Emile Sinclair to come back, which will give us a bit of everything in terms of starting options and who to bring off the bench."

Wilcox went on to admit that he was first alerted to Thompson's potential by chance, as he ran the rule over another potential target - believed to be Gateshead defender Nathan Buddle.

"Sometimes you go to games and end up coming back with a different name," the Bootham Crescent chief explained. "I went to watch a couple of Blyth players last season and Reece was playing against them for Frickley.

"The centre-half I was mainly looking at went on to sign for Carlisle and Reece gave him a really tough time that night. That brought him to my attention and I saw him play for Frickley again against Doncaster Rovers in pre-season.

"They put a strong team out and he also caused them problems so things have progressed from there."

Wilcox added that Thompson's spell in non-league football, following an apprenticeship that saw him play under current City head of youth Andy McMillan for Lincoln under-18s, will make his determination to succeed in North Yorkshire even stronger.

Having been released by Lincoln after one FA Trophy substitute appearance, Thompson has followed the same path back into the pro game that Wilcox and his assistant John Schofield both trod, making the City chief confident that his new signing can bridge the three-division climb he will be making up the football pyramid.

"He's a hard-working front player who doesn't stop running," Wilcox pointed out. "He can also score goals.

"He got 16 in 32 games for Frickley and, although that was in a lower league, you still have to put the ball in the net. He's also got good movement.

"He has that hunger too, which is massively important. I came through non-league myself, as did John, and you know what's required when you get that second chance.

"You also don't want to let it go and fight as hard as you can to prove yourself as a player. He will benefit from full-time training and playing with better players too."