FORMER York City captain Simon Heslop is continuing to train with the club but remains a long way from full fitness, assistant manager Micky Cummins has said.

After joining the club in 2016, Heslop left York this summer after his contract with the Minstermen expired.

Heslop made 84 league appearances for York, though he was limited to just five matches last term, primarily due to undergoing knee surgery midway through the campaign.

Cummins explained that Heslop remained with the club as the 32-year-old tries to regain his match fitness and that he’s currently in training with the York youth team.

“Simon’s here trying to get fit,” said the assistant manager. “It’s a slow process for him but it’s good seeing him around the place.

“He mixes well with the new lads that have come into the squad. He’s a good professional and he is here everyday.

“He’s not quite able to join in with the first-team just yet. I think he’s done a couple of sessions with the youth team.

“It will be a slow process. It’s not something that he personally wants to rush back from and to have another injury set back.”

Last month, manager Steve Watson said that the coaching staff at York would have a discussion with Heslop about his future at his hometown club once he resumes to full fitness.

Watson said: “Simon is going through his rehabilitation, which as a club we should be doing, and when he's fit, we'll have a chat and we'll have a look at him."