GUADELOUPE international Stephane Zubar will bring pace, power and higher-league quality to York City after agreeing a loan move from Bournemouth, according to Bootham Crescent chief Russ Wilcox.

The 6ft 2in centre-back, who worked under Wilcox when he was the Cherries' assistant manager, is eligible for tomorrow's FA Cup first round clash against AFC Wimbledon and will be challenging Keith Lowe and John McCombe for a starting place with Dan Parslow having also rejoined Grimsby on loan.

Since moving to Plymouth in 2010, Zubar has played all of his football at League One level for the Pilgrims and Bournemouth as well as during loan spells with Bury and Port Vale, where he spent last month before picking up a three-match suspension following a red card against Preston.

He previously plied his trade in France, where he played second-level football, along with spells in the Belgian and Romanian top-flights with Brussels and Vaslui respectively, while his elder brother Ronald is a former Marseille and Wolves defender.

Former Bournemouth boss Lee Bradbury handed the 28-year-old defender a three-and-a-half year contract in February 2012 but he is now deemed surplus to requirements at Dean Court with Wilcox happy to capitalise on that situation, saying: "He will bring pace and power into the back line and provide us with more competition for places with Dave Winfield being out and Dan Parslow going back to Grimsby.

"He's very competitive and I used to work with him at Bournemouth, so I know he's got a terrific attitude and applies himself right. He will be a good addition to the squad.

"Bournemouth have moved in a different direction now and have done fantastically well to get to the top end of the Championship, so he's not part of their plans but he's experienced and a good age. He's played most of his career at a level higher than League Two and he's another body because we only have until the end of November before the loan window closes until January."

Zubar is described on his Wikipedia page as a centre-half who can also play at right-back but Wilcox has recruited him to challenge for a position in the heart of City’s defence.

“I’ve never seen him play right-back,” the City chief explained.

“He might have played a few games there, but he’s mainly a centre-half, who is 6ft 2in, mobile, aggressive and looking to get his career back on track.”

Parslow has returned to Blundell Park, where he has been given permission to play in the Mariners’ first round tie against Oxford today.

The Welsh defender has been an unused substitute during the last three City matches following his recall from an initial one-month loan stay with the Conference club, but Wilcox is happy to give him some more game time, adding: “We’ve let Dan go back to play some games there, but the door’s not closed on him.

“It was just a situation that arose.

“I got a call from Paul Hurst asking if he could take him back and it was a bit of a surprise when Stephane became available, so him coming into the building allowed us to let Dan go out again.”