Jonny Parr is Town’s Mr Versatile and can perform in defence or midfield — but right now he is just grateful to be playing at all.

Niggling injuries have kept Parr on the sidelines for spells this season, meaning he has so far managed just two starts and a further two appearances from the bench in the Championship, so he is hoping he will stay fully fit for long enough to claim a regular first-team place.

Parr, whose starts came in the recent away defeats at Blackburn and Hull, was cast in a wide left role at the KC Stadium on Tuesday before giving way at half-time to Freddie Sears as Town, trailing 2-0 at the break, had no alternative but to adopt a more attacking approach in the second half.

He said: “It was a bit different for me but sometimes you just have to do your best in the role you are given and that’s what I did.

“I tried my best in that position and sometimes because of injuries and different aspects you need to put players in what may not be their preferred positions. We all do that for the team and give it our best shot.

“It has been a frustrating start to the season for me with a lot of small injuries that have had me in and out of the treatment room.

“But for the past four weeks or so it has been positive for me. I’ve been back training every day and been fit for every game. I’ve had a couple of games now and hopefully I’ll play a few more going forward and help the team to get some more points.

“Every player wants to play every game and it’s no different with me. I would like to play as much as possible and I’m happy to be back fit and competing for a place in the starting XI. Hopefully I’ll get my chance and we’ll win some games and have a good spell.”

Parr was asked if it adds to the pressure when a player who has not been featuring regularly is thrust into first team action, bearing in mind that player’s desire to impress sufficiently in order to remain a regular fixture in the starting XI.

He responded: “I don’t think there’s any more pressure than if you are playing every week. You still have to keep your place and do well. We know there is healthy competition around the team because we have a good squad with a lot of good players.

“If you’re playing you do your best to keep your place and if you’re not playing you are pushing to get back in there — that’s my mentality.

“Of course, we all want to play in every game because it’s no fun sitting on the bench, but we support the guys who are starting even if we are doing our very best to get in there ourselves.

“I’ve said all along that left-back is my preferred position — that’s where I have played most of my games over the last five or six years — but we’ll see where I play next time.

“I wasn’t disappointed when the manager signed Jonas Knudsen at the start of the season because we had sold Tyrone Mings and we needed another left-back.

“I was injured at the time so I don’t think the manager had much of a choice but to bring someone in. It’s up to me now because I’m fit, back in training and looking to get a place in the team.

“I had a little niggle in my thigh early in pre-season and when I came back a couple of times I didn’t quite get rid of it. But in the past few weeks it’s been really good so I’m training well and ready to play.”

Photo: Action Images

sidtheswan added 06:22 - Oct 23 Parr should be playing every game when fit at right back ! Come on MM go for the novel approach actually play a right back at right back ! You know it makes sense .
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battyblue added 08:02 - Oct 23 i agree should be playing at right back...........perhaps that is the problem players are willing to play out of their best positions just to get game time but not for the good of the team eg Chambers and co.
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thebeat added 09:30 - Oct 23 How he doesnt get in at right or left back is a joke.
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Steelmonkey added 10:08 - Oct 23 My thoughts and sentiments have been echoed already, you beat me to it. COYB's
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warktheline added 12:35 - Oct 23 Don't think McCarthy rates Parr, I can't fathom why! Shame the lad is a touch injury prone, but nevertheless how he isn't penciled in for starting 11 on a regular bases is beyond MOST OF US! The 'blind faith' on forum won't question why, Mick always knows best!!!!
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Len_Brennan added 13:18 - Oct 23 He should be playing at left back, seeing as how Knudsen has not really impressed. We should have signed a genuine right back of course, as many of us have been calling for years now. In the absence of that (although Malarczyk billed as a centre half/right back when signed), Parr is our best option at right back in my view. Surely Malarczyk must be wondering why he hasn't come into the reckoning for a game at this stage, given our woes on the right hand side of the defence. He was well into his season when signed, so should be relatively up to speed.

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