JON Parkin’s quality was hailed by York City boss Gary Mills after the 35-year-old veteran inspired a 5-3 comeback victory against Southport.

The former Championship marksman scored twice and teed up other goals for fellow forwards Vadaine Oliver and Amari Morgan-Smith as the Minstermen recovered from trailing 3-1 to secure three precious points in the fight for National League survival.

Sean Newton had earlier opened the scoring on four minutes before three spectacular Southport strikes from Louis Almond (two) and Rory McKeown turned a crazy contest on its head.

Highlighting Parkin’s contribution, City Mills said: “When you have Jon’s quality in your team, there’s every chance you can comeback like we did. At 3-2, his equaliser was massive for us and he’s a quality man, who I’ve not worked with before, but I’m loving working with him now.

“He didn’t train the day before the game and went for a little swim instead, because we’ve got to look after him in the right way and I ask him every day if he wants to train, because I trust him.”

Parkin’s second goal and the hosts’ fifth came from a prodigiously long throw from debutant Sam Muggleton with Mills admitting the former Eastleigh left back’s special weapon can be put to good use during the run-in.

“I’ve never been one for long throws, but every club seems to have somebody who can do it and we’ve probably got the best one now,” Mills reasoned. “It’s a major reason why I brought him here.

“You can be more accurate with your hands than your feet and, with the targets we’ve got, we might need him on the pitch, whether it’s only for five minutes or 45, to get that ball in the box.”

Mills will now be assessing a back spasm problem that saw goalkeeper Kyle Letheren replaced by Luke Simpson midway through the second half, before he decides to reinforce that area of the team before Thursday’s transfer deadline.

The Minstermen chief also wants clarification on Asa Hall’s situation, with his parent club Cheltenham indicating that they want to recall him when his loan expires after the weekend.

“Asa doesn’t want to return because he wants to help us get out of the bottom four and to play at Wembley, but we need to know what’s going to happen, because I only have until Thursday to bring in somebody else,” Mills pointed out.