Mills may pair Parkin and Rankine in York City attack

The Minstermen kick-off their pre-season campaign tomorrow with a short hop over to West Yorkshire to face Farsley Celtic.

And, with the likes of Amari Morgan-Smith and Louis Almond also vying for attacking spots, Mills has plenty of options to experiment with ahead of the first encounter of the National North season in little under a month.

Parkin and Rankine are 35 and 32 respectively and, while their considerable frames raise questions marks about their front-line compatibility, Mills has reasoned that starting them in a first XI is something to consider during next season’s National League North campaign.

He said: “It’s an option and that’s what you want with the smaller squad we will be putting together. Whether we play Jon and Ranks up together, we’ll have to wait and see.

“If not, then to bring one of them on at some stage, will be a weapon for us.

"Ranks is coming towards the back end of his playing career, but he still has a lot to offer and will be a handful in the league we are going into and I know what York City means to him.”

Mills has also hinted at a horses-for-courses approach to team selection during 2017/18 with Parkin and Rankine more likely to be on the pitch together at compact away grounds, where set-pieces could prove pivotal.

“They can both be a threat in the penalty box,” the Bootham Crescent chief pointed out.

“There’s no question of that and you have to play to your strengths.

“We have got Sam Muggleton with his long throw and we will be using it when we need to do. We’ll be going to some tight, little grounds and, whilst I want us to play when we can, we will need to mix things up as well.

“The players will need to be strong enough to handle anything that’s thrown at them, because every team in the league will raise their game when they play against York City so, having experienced players like Jon and Ranks, who have been there and done it, will help us greatly.”