Aaron Mclean is under orders to put down some roots in West Yorkshire to get himself in the best position for City next season.

Phil Parkinson is confident that the former Premier League striker will kick on after finishing the last campaign with goals in the final two games.

But he wants Mclean, who joined on a two-and-a-half year deal from Hull in January, to underline his Valley Parade commitment by quitting London to secure a full-time base in the area.

Parkinson said: “We’ve had discussions about him moving up and being close by and I think he will get huge benefits from that.

“He was living in a hotel when he came and going from place to place.

“I spoke to him at the end of the season and said he needs to get a base up here and move closer to the training ground.

“We’ve insisted on that to be really part of what we are trying to create here, because he’s got undoubted ability to put the ball in the back of the net.”

The pressure was building on Mclean when it took him until his 11th City outing to get off the mark for his new club against Gillingham.

Two smartly-taken goals in the Crawley and Tranmere games in the last week lifted his tally to four from 18 starts.

Parkinson hopes that will provide a platform to build on ahead of his first full season – and feels that a settled home in the locality can only help.

The City boss added: “Aaron had a difficult start with us but I think with any striker you want to score early and build your confidence.

“Unfortunately that goal didn’t come but I always felt that he would score and I believe he can score.

“I’ve been in the press already to say I think it will be a big season for him. But he knows that he’s got to give himself the best chance of doing that by really committing himself to the club.

“He had a few bases when he first came and was staying in a hotel a lot of the time, which quite often happens.

“When there are so many games, it’s very difficult to be house-hunting through that period.

“I do feel that when he has got settled up here then physically he will be in a lot better shape to produce his best performances week in and week out.”