YORK City will be getting a full-time player in summer signing Kieran Green despite his arrival from semi-professional Blyth Spartans.

The Stockton-on-Tees-born 21-year-old moved to Blyth from City chief Steve Watson’s former club Gateshead last summer but carried on training with the National League outfit throughout the 2018/19 campaign as he aimed to maintain a professional level of fitness.

Watson had wanted to keep Green at the International Stadium last term, but the ex-Hartlepool midfielder chose the opportunity of more match minutes a division below with Blyth, whom he helped take into a play-off position as a first-team regular and scorer of seven goals.

On his pleasure at being reunited with Green in North Yorkshire, Watson said: “I tried to keep him at Gateshead, so was disappointed when he left for Blyth, but he believed he would get more games there. We kept an eye on him, though, because he kept training full-time with us.

“I spoke to the lads who are still at Gateshead and they said he got better and better during the season and they said he was the best they’ve ever seen him physically by the end of it, so he will only get better at his age.”

Supporting Watson’s comments and the views of his former colleagues from the North East, four of Green’s goals were scored in April during victories against Guiseley, Nuneaton, Curzon Ashton and Ashton United as Blyth grabbed sixth place in the final league standings.

The City chief is now looking for his first summer signing to carry on from where he left off last term and target double figures in front of goal during the next campaign.

“Greeny can pretty much do anything,” Watson declared. “He’s an all-round midfielder, who is very strong and aggressive.

“He can get up and down the pitch and covers a lot of distance. Technically, he’s also very good, with a good range of passing and an eye for goal, as he proved with Blyth last season.

“We’re looking for a bit more of a goal threat from all departments next season and I believe he can get double figures for us. Despite his age, he has quite a wise head on his shoulders in relation to football and, when push came to shove as Blyth went on the good run that got them into the play-offs, he was arguably one of their most consistent performers and he contributed some important goals.

“For a young player, he’s also now got a good number of games under his belt in this division and the one above.”