Tractor-Boys.com

Sam Parkin is closing in on a return to fitness after four months out with a broken ankle and is relishing the challenge of regaining his place in the Town attack.

The summer signing from Swindon is back in full training and hoping to play for the reserves against Crystal Palace next week.

But Sam is fully aware that he faces a battle to regain his place in the Blues' line-up with Alan Lee impressing since joining from Cardiff in January and Danny Haynes emerging on the scene with a flurry of goals.

"As a striker you would normally be disappointed if a manager brought in a new front player but the way it has been here with Fozzie, Adam Proudlock and myself out, we clearly needed someone to come in," Sam told the Club website.

"I fully expected the boss to bring in two new strikers in fact but Danny has been a bonus in the way he has taken to the first-team.

"Alan has done superbly since he has joined us and is in pole position to be first choice at the moment and I'm hoping I can get myself match fit and be the one that partners him.

"With players coming back from injury we have competition all over the pitch now but that's important if we are to continue moving forward."

hallamblue wrote:My bet is that as soon as Parkin is fit , he will come into the side at the expence of Haynes. Joe will want to protect Danny (whether we like it or not) he's still very young and we need to avoid burn out. He also took a hell of a battering, physically, on sunday from those dirty gits. Wouldnt suprise me if he was "dropped" for the next two games to give him time away from the rigours of this league.