DAN Parslow is ready to give York City manager Martin Gray "passion, commitment and desire" if he is recalled to the starting line-up.

The former Wales under-21 international has started City's last 12 games as a substitute having lost his first XI place at the start of December following the 2-1 defeat at Boston.

But he gave a strong performance as skipper at the heart of the reserves' defence during this afternoon's 1-1 home draw with Rotherham and, having played in every position for the club in a back four and three in the past as well as a midfield anchorman, Parslow has admitted he would line up anywhere to assist the Minstermen in their National League North play-off push.

Following the Central League contest, ex-Cardiff reserve Parslow, who is 11th on City's all-time appearances' list, said: "These games are important to make sure you're topped up and it was another 90 minutes in the bank for me to do the best I can so, if called upon, hopefully sooner rather than later, I'll be ready to grab that chance with both hands.

"It was a difficult day for the boys at Curzon at the weekend losing 4-1 and you're sat there wanting to help out. I've been there before on the receiving end of numerous games where you don't play as well as you should have done and it's tough.

"You're obviously helpless on the side and I'm itching to get out there and help the boys out in the first team, but that's the manager's choice. I've proven over numerous years that I'm pretty versatile and, wherever it's felt I might be needed by the manager, I'll go out there and do my best.

"He has gone on record talking about the importance of passion, commitment and desire for the club and I base my performances on that. If that's what he's looking for, that will come as standard and then, hopefully, my best performances would be enough to help us get three points."

Parslow felt there were several players who pressed their claims for senior duty this weekend against Rotherham and reasoned that Raul Correia's second-half goal will have given him a boost, as the club look for firepower during Jon Parkin's three-match suspension.

"It was a very good, solid performance," Parslow declared. "All the lads who are itching to get into the first team got the opportunity to play 90 minutes and I thought everybody did well.

"Attitudes were spot on and we had numerous chances and probably should have been in front before they scored their goal but, overall, we looked dangerous, exuberant and fresh. They were an inexperienced team, but they had some good, young professionals and Raul and Louis (Almond) caused them heaps of problems.

"It can only help Raul that he scored a goal. He's a big, strong boy and centre-forwards thrive on goals.

"He nicked one and took it very well so, hopefully, if called upon at the weekend, he can do the same against Alfreton."

Sixteen-year-old left-winger Vinny Steels, meanwhile, caught the eye during a confident first-half display in which he won the team a penalty that Almond could not convert.

On Steels' promise, Parslow added: "Somebody just told me he was born in 2001 and that's scary, because it makes you feel so old at 32. But he has a really, bright future.

"He's very direct and comfortable on the ball and, whilst he's still a young boy, you can see he has huge potential and it can only do him good playing out there on the main pitch."

The Bootham Crescent playing surface cut up during the match, meanwhile, following Sunday's York City Knights v Bradford Bulls rugby league fixture, with the goalmouths particularly affected and Parslow pointed out: "Their goal was a bit fortunate with the bounce that meant the ball went over Simmo (Luke Simpson) and that six-yard box is very bobbly.

"We had the rugby on the pitch at the weekend and that's made it a bit lively, but we still passed the ball when we could and played in good areas when we needed to."