STRIKER Liam Henderson says he sees York City as the ideal place to get his career back on track.

The 21-year-old became Minstermen boss Gary Mills’ first signing of the summer and believes he can help to fire his new side back into the Football League.

Watford announced Henderson would become a free agent this summer having spent five years with the Championship outfit.

A product of Redheugh Boys Club, in Gateshead, which was the boyhood team of England international Paul Gascoigne, he has also had loan spells with Hartlepool, Colchester United, Aldershot Town and Rotherham.

Despite having yet to net a League goal in some 50 appearances, Henderson was a prolific scorer for the Hornets’ reserve sides – once hitting four in a 9-3 thumping of Stevenage Borough.

He reckons the two-year deal he has signed at Bootham Crescent will eventually result in York’s return to League duty.

“The number one target is promotion and getting to the Football League,” he said. “That’s where I want to be and that’s where the manager and the club want to be. The club is steeped in history.

“I came and met the manager last week. He told me to come in, play some games and score some goals. What sold it most to me was the style of football and the ambition of the club and the manager. From there, I knew I wanted to sign.

“I haven’t any experience of playing in the Conference but I have been told that there isn’t much difference between League Two and the Conference.

“Hopefully, I can kick on. I come from Gateshead originally. I went to Watford when I was 16 and have spent five years there.”

Henderson added: “I’ve been on loan to various clubs where, unfortunately, it hasn’t worked out – for various reasons – but, hopefully, I can get my career back on track at York and help them progress into the Football League.

“The manager sold it on ambition and I feel this is the right move for me.”

Henderson described himself as a “hard-working” player who likes to run the channels and hold the ball up as well as get into the box. He said the prospect of regular football was a key factor in his decision to sign.

“Everyone wants to be in League football and the manager has sold this club as being one ready to go up,” he added. “He wants to go there and, hopefully, I can help take the club and myself back into League football.

“I’m at that stage of my career now where I need to play games. It’s the challenge of playing competitive games for a whole season – that’s what I have come here to do, score goals and get my career back on track.”

Mills said the capture of Henderson was the first cog in his plan to help the club “kick on” further next season in the Blue Square Bet Premier. “You find out about players during the season and, especially with strikers, you are always asking questions about who is available,” he said. “The timing is absolutely perfect for Liam.

“Michael Rankine has gone to Aldershot and it was time for a change for me anyway.

“He (Henderson) wants to prove things and I have still got things to prove. I came here last October and we’ve done fantastically last season.

“I want to kick on now and I need the likes of Liam to help me do that at this club. I think the club is perfect for him. He’s a true pro. He’s a bit old school and I am delighted to have him. I am sure he’ll do very well for us.

“Liam will learn early on how we play. I want him to come here to enjoy his football and express himself, get people talking about him.

“I know from his character that this is what he wants.

“I’ve told him he has come to a fantastic club, a fantastic city with an ambitious football club that wants to succeed.

“We’ve got Liam in now, I am hoping to bring a few more in to complement him and we look forward to it.”