RICHARD Cresswell has rejected several loan moves this season but found his latest offer impossible to turn down.

The 35-year-old Sheffield United striker has returned to York City with the intention of helping his first club stay in the Football League, having not been tempted sufficiently by bids from other outfits, including some of the Blades’ fellow League One rivals.

The former England Under-21 international admitted that this challenge was always going to be hard to resist, having even been among the thousands who applauded last season’s double Wembley-winning team during the open-top bus parade through the city.

On returning to Bootham Crescent 14 years after his departure for Sheffield Wednesday in a £950,000 deal, Cresswell said: “I’ve had a few options over the last couple of months to go out.

“Some were from teams in League One and others in this division but I have a good role at Sheffield United. This offer was the one that tickled my fancy though.

“My family is from the city, we live here and York gave me the chance to start my career, so it’s only right to give my all for a month to try to help get the three wins I think are needed to keep the club up.

“I think I owe them that. I have never lost my affinity with the club – it’s always been there.

“I’ve followed them all the way through my career and it was nice to be asked back to add the experience that I have got.”

Bridlington-born Cresswell moved back to York in 2006 and has remained in the city for the last seven years, witnessing at first hand the jubilant scenes in St Helen’s Square ten months ago.

“I joined in the celebrations with my kids last season,” he said.

“It was a fantastic time for the club and a great achievement to get back into the League but what’s happened since just shows how football can change so quickly.

“The players are in a bit of a rut and the last thing anybody wants in the city is for the club to go back down because everybody knows here how hard it is to get back up.

“All it takes, though, is a scrappy 1-0 win to get all the confidence back and, hopefully, that can start this weekend.”

Cresswell also revealed that this week was not the first time Worthington had come calling for his services.

When in charge of Norwich, the current Minstermen chief also inquired about his availability but, with Leicester the furthest Cresswell has travelled from his Yorkshire roots to ply his trade during an eight club career, the 6ft forward was not keen on a transfer to Norfolk.

But, now the pair have been belatedly united, Cresswell has been impressed with what he has seen so far, saying: “He has a massive array of experience and is very determined and organised.

“He knows exactly what the team needs at this time.

“Along with the chairman, he is working hard to help the club retain their League Two status and, in training, everybody is buzzing.”

Despite Sheffield United challenging for promotion from League One and Cresswell having made 20 appearances for the Blades this season, Bramall Lane boss Danny Wilson also gave the club’s most-experienced striker his blessing to come to the Minstermen’s assistance.

“He left this decision up to me,” Cresswell said.

“He knows what the club means to me and just told me to go out and enjoy some football for a month.”