MICHAEL Rankine has told York City supporters not to worry about whether he can play up front with Jon Parkin - and let opposition teams fret about that prospect instead.

The 6ft 3in forward is “100 per cent” convinced that he can forge a compatible partnership with fellow heavyweight striker Parkin.

With Amari Morgan-Smith and Louis Almond also in the pecking order for attacking places at Bootham Crescent, competition is strong during 2017/18, although manager Gary Mills’ preference for a front three offers greater opportunities for selection.

Asked whether he could line up effectively alongside last term’s top-scorer Parkin, Rankine said: “I’m 100 per cent sure we can play together.

“People talk about mobility, but I still feel mobile for my size and we’ve got a lot of lads around us who are mobile. You have to adapt to circumstances and, while people might be judging whether we can play together, who would want to play against us?

“I can’t see many defenders wanting to see both of us on the team sheet. As a team, we can play football, which is the gaffer’s way but, with me and the big man, if we want to go direct as well, there’s a Plan B.”

But, with Rankine having replaced Parkin at half-time or on the hour mark during City’s opening four pre-season friendlies and the pair only sharing the same pitch for the last third of the final two warm-up matches, it would appear that there will be space for only one of the targetmen in Mills’ starting XI for tomorrow’s National League curtain-raiser at home to Telford.

Rankine feels that former Championship campaigner Parkin, who rattled in 16 goals following his December return to North Yorkshire, will get the nod and, on his own selection outlook, admitted: “It’s difficult and the gaffer has some decisions to make.

“Parky came in as a big lad last season and did well and was unlucky not to keep York up. The gaffer has a plan and I have to be patient, but it’s a team game and we are a squad – a very good one – so if I start, then brilliant but, if I don’t, I’ll still be part of trying to get us back up.”

Experienced duo Parkin and Rankine remain two of the biggest players in the English game and are often subjected to jibes about their size.

In an era obsessed by conditioning, Rankine realises the pair are not everybody’s cup of tea – former Newport boss Graham Westley released Parkin last term – but the former pays no attention to criticism of his heavy frame.

“We might be a dying breed, but I think bigger, stronger people will come back into the game, because you do need that physical presence,” he pointed out. “If other managers and players are bothered by my size, that’s up to them.

“I am what I am and not many people can do what I can. I’m not the most skilful or composed player in the world – far from it – but what I will do is throw my body on the line and work hard and I will use my attributes for as long as I can to try and provide and score goals.”

Rankine marked his return to City by heading in a Sam Muggleton long throw during the 2-2 pre-season draw with Scunthorpe at Bootham Crescent and anticipates that his new team-mate’s extraordinary touchline talent will, once more, prove a potent weapon this term.

“It’s like a corner or a free kick and you have to use such strengths,” the former Aldershot forward enthused. “Anything in the box always gives you a chance of a goal and managers look for these type of players, so we’re lucky to have him in the changing room.”

Having spent the last two seasons playing part-time football for Altrincham and Guiseley, allowing him to also focus on outside business interests, Rankine went on to reveal that there was only one club and manager that could persuade him to return to the professional game.

He is starting his third spell with the Minstermen, following previous stints in 2009 and 2013, while Mills has now worked with him five times during their respective careers. “I’m enjoying being back in full-time football after two years out and pre-season has been brilliant,” Rankine added. “It’s been sharp and just what I needed.

“I had no plans to come back full-time, because I’ve got things going on behind the scenes as well but, if I was going to go back full-time, it was only going to be with the gaffer and this club, which I’ve always said I would like to come back to and I’m enjoying every minute being back.”

Rankine has also welcomed City’s spine of seniority this season, as one of five players aged over 30.

At 32, he joins fellow seasoned campaigners Parkin (35), Jon Worsnop (34), Dan Parslow (31) and Simon Heslop (30) on the Bootham Crescent books, whilst Hamza Bencherif will reach the landmark age during the season with Rankine reasoning: “Clubs go for youth a bit, which is good, but you need experience as well.

“You need old heads who have been in such scenarios before to see out games and control the younger boys and I think we’ve got the balance right in the squad.”

With almost 600 senior appearances to his name, Rankine has even been thrown the captain’s armband at different stages in pre-season and relished the responsibility.

“It (the armband) just found its way to me really, but I’m older now and it would be an honour if I’m seen to be a leader in the changing room,” he confessed.