AMARI Morgan-Smith has volunteered to lead York City’s attack if target-men Jon Parkin and Michael Rankine are both ruled out this weekend.

The 28-year-old forward has lined up on the flanks in manager Gary Mills’ favoured 3-4-3 and 4-3-3 formations but, after Parkin and second-half replacement Kaine Felix picked up injuries, he finished Tuesday’s 2-0 victory at Blyth Spartans playing through the middle.

Felix will be available for tomorrow’s trip to Bradford Park Avenue after recovering from a bang to his head, but Parkin (calf) and Rankine (hamstring) are both doubtful with Morgan-Smith ready to emulate skipper Sean Newton by demonstrating his versatility if needed.

Former Wrexham left-back Newton scored City’s second goal on the north-east coast after being moved from defence into midfield and, when asked whether he could deputise for Parkin and Rankine in a lone central striker role, Morgan-Smith said: “I can do that most definitely.

“Like Newts, wherever I’m chosen to play, I will give 100 per cent. He’s played in numerous positions last season and this, which shows great character because, wherever he’s selected, he will roll his sleeves up and play to the best of his ability.”

City chief Mills claimed Morgan-Smith could have scored a hat-trick at Blyth, where two one-on-one opportunities went begging.

But the former Luton and Cheltenham marksman, who is without a goal in his last nine competitive outings, is not fretting about missed chances.

“We had numerous chances and I can vouch for that,” he admitted. “We went in 2-0 up, but it could have been 4-0 or 5-0 and that will come.

“As long as I’m getting chances, I won’t worry about it too much and will continue to work hard. Cask (football consultant Darren Caskey) and the gaffer said I should just let rip sometimes, rather than trying to be too precise and I think I will get a lot more opportunities so, hopefully, I can score more goals.

“It doesn’t matter who scores, though, as long as the club are heading in the right direction. The games are coming thick and fast at the moment and getting three points on the board against Blyth was the most important thing.”

Morgan-Smith is hoping, though, to take advantage this term of last season’s top scorer Parkin’s tendency to occupy opposing teams and increase his own goal tally.

“He knows where the back of the net is and he distracts the defenders as well,” the ex-England C international reasoned. “They worry about his size and presence, which means I can then get in behind and that’s what I’m going to try and do this season.”

Morgan-Smith also agreed with his manager placing importance on meeting the mental challenge of visiting modest grounds such as Park Avenue’s 3,500-capacity Horsfall Stadium during 2017/18.

As a striker at Ilkeston Town, Morgan-Smith’s last trip to Park Avenue ended in a 1-0 win nine years ago and he pointed out: “We are professional footballers and it’s always 11v11.

“No matter where you are playing, you look to win the match. I’ve also played there in the past and had some decent results so, hopefully, we can capitalise on that.”