YORK City’s top scorer Jon Parkin has had a knee operation but the club expect him to return before the end of the season.

Parkin missed last night’s 3-2 home victory over Southport with James Gray scoring a dramatic 90th-minute winner after Alex Kempster and Aidan Connolly had earlier put the Minstermen in the ascendancy.

Commenting on Parkin’s situation afterwards, Gray said: “He’s had a minor operation to clear out his knee, so we’ll be without him for two to three weeks, but are hoping to get him back before the end of the season and going into the play-offs.”

Kempster and Louis Almond also picked up hamstring problems against Southport that are likely to keep them out over Easter, but an additional injury to Alex Pattison is not thought to be serious.

The problems gave Gray the chance to score for the first time in 23 matches and his pleased namesake added: “He couldn’t score when he first came to the club and, the longer that goes on, it has an effect on forwards. He’s had it tough off the fans and I understand their frustrations, but he’s a brave, honest lad who wants to do well, as we could all see when he scored.”

On the earlier news that Jason McGill has stood down as chairman, Gray insisted: “We need to stay focussed on the grass and can’t get distracted by anything.

“Jason McGill has been fantastic for the club and is known as Mr York City across the north of England because he’s given everything he can for the club for so long. He’s the reason I came here so I owe him everything and all I want to concentrate on is the team having to perform for him and the fans now.”