AMARI Morgan-Smith has revealed that he chose bottom-of-the-table York City ahead of today's high-flying visitors Barrow as he considered loan moves from Cheltenham.

The sixth-placed Bluebirds were interested in recruiting the 27-year-old striker but Morgan-Smith opted to head for North Yorkshire instead and promptly scored on his Minstermen debut in last weekend's 2-1 FA Trophy triumph at Harlow.

Barrow are now next in the 6ft striker's sights and, explaining his reasons for rejecting a switch to Holker Street, Morgan-Smith said: "Funnily enough, Barrow were one of the clubs interested in me before I joined York and, while it won't be awkward, it will be a good chance to get a goal against them to try and push us up the league.

"I came here instead because I know, from previous years, that it's a big club. When I was at Luton, York were aiming to get in the league and got there.

"They were also in League One not so long back and I just know things are run right here. I'm a player who not only wants to be full-time but someone who wants to do all I can.

"I don't want to just come in and get home early. I want to crack on with my work and I feel we've got players in the changing room who are pretty similar."

This afternoon is also likely to see Morgan-Smith get a first opportunity to line up alongside former Championship striker Jon Parkin, whose joints were spared duty on Harlow's 3G pitch.

The ex-Luton and Kidderminster forward is relishing that prospect and said: "I don't need to say too much about Jon Parkin. Everyone knows what comes with him and I'm delighted to know that I will be playing with such an experienced and good pro.

"I can try and feed off him and get on to as many balls as possible to get in behind teams and try and create a good partnership."

Morgan-Smith's fellow Cheltenham loanee Dan Parslow will be keeping things tight, meanwhile, at the other end of the pitch and the former admitted he still cannot believe that his parent club allowed the latter to leave Whaddon Road.

"I've spoken to Pars about how surprised I am that Cheltenham have let him go and it's all happened in such a short space of time," explained Morgan-Smith.

"He was literally our best player because we all voted for him as the Players' Player of the Year last season – but that's football. Pars will brush it off, carry on and come back stronger, as he showed at Harlow."

Morgan-Smith went on to express his pleasure at getting off the mark for City on his maiden outing, courtesy of an assist from Parslow.

"You've got to try and be as cool and calm as possible and that's what I was," he said of the 76th-minute deadlock-breaker. "I tucked it away nicely after Pars knocked it down to me, so I thank him for that.

"Coming in as a striker, I wanted to get a goal straight away but, more importantly, it was about getting a win to get some momentum going to take into the league.

"Hopefully I can now score lots of goals, because I want to get as many as I can to help my team-mates in the changing room.

"I know they have had a tough time but, hopefully, me and Pars can bring it all together with our experience."