YORK City stalwart Dan Parslow has been ruled out for the rest of the season due to cruciate ligament damage.

The extent of Parslow’s injury was revealed by manager Nigel Worthington following Saturday’s 0-0 home draw with Rochdale.

That match was the second the former Wales under-21 international had missed since being stretchered off during his 316th appearance for the Minstermen a week earlier at Southend.

On losing Parslow for the remainder of 2013/14, Worthington said: “He will be out for six months and I am disappointed for Daniel because he’s a great pro and a lovely lad. It’s a cruel blow for him and us, but at least we know the results now and, during the long road ahead, he will be part of things going forward.

“He will be kept in the loop and, whatever we can do to help his rehabilitation, we will do. That might mean resting for now.

“That’s entirely up to him for a little period, but then he will work hard with (City physio) Jeff Miller, who has had experience of dealing with cruciate injuries before, so he’s in good hands.”

The draw against promotion hopefuls Rochdale represented the fifth time the Minstermen have shared the spoils during a run of six League Two games without a win but Worthington believes his team can get back on the victory trail if they maintain their current standards.

He added: “I couldn’t have asked much more of the players over the last fortnight than what they have given me.

“Their spirit and fitness levels have shone through and we had a lot of balls bouncing around Rochdale’s six-yard box.

“Their players put their bodies in the way and their ’keeper got in the way as well, but you have to live with that.

“There were two good, honest sides trying to win the game and we kept a clean sheet, worked hard and played a lot of good football. If we continue to do that, we will be fine.”

City had to make a late alteration to their starting line-up when Wes Fletcher decided not to risk a hamstring twinge and Ashley Chambers was promoted from the bench.

But, with the Minstermen without a match for a fortnight due to their first-round FA Cup exit at the hands of Bristol Rovers, Fletcher should have recovered in time for the trip to Burton a week on Saturday.

“Wes had been feeling his hamstring for a couple of days and there was no point in risking it and then have to bring him off after two minutes or see him pull it and lose him for six or seven weeks,” Worthington explained.

“It was a challenge losing him but the lads did not get distracted by that.

“Credit must also go to Ash Chambers who went in with five minutes’ notice before the game started and put in a shift.”

Worthington also had praise for forgotten man Michael Coulson who, having failed to even make the bench for 14 games prior to being included in the squad at Morecambe last Tuesday, enjoyed his first action since September 7 with a sprightly 77th-minute substitute outing for Chambers.

It is believed former City boss Gary Mills has already inquired about the possibility of taking Coulson on loan to Gateshead but Worthington insisted that the ex-Grimsby and Barnsley attacker can still resurrect his career at Bootham Crescent, saying: “Michael Coulson looked like he should do.

“He had a point to prove and that’s the reaction we are looking for. You can either be here, work hard and look to play League football or go elsewhere and maybe out of the League. I know which I would rather do. You need to bust a gut to make that happen and he did bust a gut.

“As a player, you always have to be ready, no matter how disappointed you might be at not being in the starting XI or in the squad, because things can change on the spin of a coin in this game.”

Worthington congratulated midfielder Tom Platt on his performance after deputising for Elliott Whitehouse, who was serving a one-match suspension.

“He looked like the young man I had in the team at the end of last season,” the City chief said.

“He was robust, won his headers, worked very hard, and was neat and tidy on the ball.”

On-loan Wolves ’keeper Aaron McCarey, meanwhile, made his debut on Saturday to become the fourth different player to don the gloves in City’s last five matches.

Worthington was also pleased with him, adding: “He dealt with one shot at his near post and did very well so I am pleased for him and us.”

Richard Cresswell, meanwhile, missed Saturday’s match due to a tight hamstring, according to the Minstermen boss.