Big Jon joins in as City get going

11:20am Thursday 3rd July 2008

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PREMIER League striker Jon Parkin has returned to his old club in a bid to be fit to face the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool next season.

Parkin, 26, started pre-season training a week earlier than his Stoke City team-mates when York City boss Colin Walker put him through his paces at Wigginton Road yesterday.

The two are old friends with Parkin having played under Walker for Barnsley’s youth team at a time when current City assistant manager Eric Winstanley and youth-team coach Neil Redfearn were also members of Oakwell’s backroom and playing staff.

Walker and Winstanley were, therefore, happy to accept the 6ft 4in forward’s request to train for a week with City’s Blue Square Premier squad.

Parkin played in 32 games last season as unfashionable Stoke secured top-flight football after a 23-year absence, but 26 of those appearances came as a substitute and he only featured twice for the Potters from the end of January.

He is now hoping that a week’s extra training with the Minster-men, whom he scored 15 goals for in 78 matches between 2002 and 2004, will help force his way back into Stoke manager Tony Pulis’ thoughts.

On his brief return to York, Parkin said: “We don’t start back at Stoke until next Thursday so I’ve come here to get a week under my belt before then.

“I’ve known Colin and Eric for 14 years so we go back a long way and I was glad when they said I could come for pre-season even though it felt a bit strange driving the same route.

“I still have a strong affinity for the club and it was always going to be tough once they slipped out of the Football League due to financial circumstances, but they’ve definitely got the right three men in Colin, Eric and Neil to kick on next season.

“Colin was my youth-team manager at Barnsley and was clearly a knowledgeable coach then.

“He just needed a chance and he’s got that with York. Hopefully, he will get them promoted next season.”

Parkin admitted, however, that his former coaches did not take it easy on him in soaring temperatures during his first day back following the close season as they oversaw a series of running drills.

The ex-Hull City and Macclesfield forward added: “The first day back is a horrible time of the year as a player and it’s always tough but you know you have to do it, get your head down and come through it.”

Stoke kick off their Premier League campaign at Bolton on August 16 and Parkin hopes his extra week of work can put him in the frame for selection at the Reebok Stadium.

He said: “Last season was fantastic even though personally I didn’t play as many games as I would have liked.

“Hopefully I can get fit this pre-season and forge my way into the team. We will be favourites to go down but we have a great set of lads and will be giving it our best shot.

“I’ve played in every other division so it would be nice to top that off in the Premier League.”