JOSH CARSON can become York City's Matt Ritchie after agreeing to sign a new deal at Bootham Crescent.

That is the opinion of Minstermen chief Russ Wilcox following the 21-year-old winger's decision to commit his future to the club next term.

Tom Platt, who was also out of contract this summer, has told Wilcox he will put pen to paper too on a one-year extension, while goalkeeper Michael Ingham has asked for a little longer as he ponders whether or not to prolong his seven-year career in North Yorkshire.

Flank man Ritchie has played a key role in Bournemouth's fairytale promotion to the Premier League over the last nine months, scoring 15 goals and picking up full Scotland caps along the way.

Carson - a Northern Ireland international - is now being tipped to become just as influential for City.

The ex-Ipswich midfielder did not make his first appearance until November last season having suffered cruciate ligament damage He went on to play 23 games before his season was curtailed prematurely when he suffered severe concussion during a late-night incident away from the club.

On his hopes for better fortunes for Carson next season, Wilcox said: "We have to realise that Josh was coming back from a major injury last season. Cruciate injuries used to be career threatening and it still takes people time to come back from them.

"When you've been out eight months, it can be a while before you're back to your best but I thought he was during his last game of the season at Mansfield. He's versatile and can play on the left or right side of a 4-4-2 and obviously showed he could play at wing-back when we changed to that system.

"I think he could play off a striker as well. He's still only 21 and reminds me a bit of Matt Ritchie at Bournemouth, which is a great compliment to pay, but I believe he can do the same things for us if he gets a good pre-season in him.

"Both Tom (Platt) and Josh have agreed to sign and I think they accept what we are trying to do at York City and want to be part of the future as the club look to move to a new stadium."

Wilcox is happy to let Ingham get back to him later this week, adding: "I've had a good chat with Michael and he needs a couple more days, which I totally understand because he's an experienced player and I'm willing to wait."

The City boss will also hang fire before holding discussions with long-serving out-of-contract utility man Dan Parslow.

Parslow played in Grimsby's penalty shoot-out defeat to Bristol Rovers during Sunday's Conference play-off final and Wilcox wants the pain of that disappointment to subside first.

He said: "What's happened at Grimsby will be very raw for everybody at the club and I'm disappointed myself. Paul Hurst is a friend of mine, but I won't be speaking to him or Dan for a few days.

"They need time to reflect on missing out on promotion on penalties after 49 games and I need to respect that. I'm also gutted because playing Grimsby would have been a better fixture for us."

Wilcox went on to stress that he had received no inquiries as yet for transfer-listed quartet Femi Ilesanmi, Marvin McCoy, Lindon Meikle and Jason Mooney, but reasoned: "May is a difficult month. People go away on holiday and things are always a bit quiet."

Responding to internet reports linking him with a move for released Crewe striker Vadaine Oliver, who scored seven goals in 32 appearances on loan at Mansfield last season, Wilcox said: "There are always rumours and I would like a target man of his ilk.

"We always speak about the importance of making that first contact at both ends of the pitch, especially from the goalkeeper and at free-kicks.

"We've got to keep the ball better at the top end of the pitch so the type of player he is would interest me. I've not spoken to him but we've put names down on paper and he is someone we have spoken about."