Phil Parkinson tied down Ross Hannah for another year at City and then told him: It shows we are right behind you.

The striker is today signing an extension after the club took up an option in his original deal.

And Parkinson hopes that will remove any anxiety Hannah may have had about making the grade at Valley Parade.

Hannah made his 24th appearance when he came off the bench against Accrington – but 16 of those have been as a substitute.

After netting a massive 52 goals for part-timers Matlock last season, the 25-year-old was seen as one of the hottest properties in non-league.

But Hannah, who has scored three times for City, is still waiting to make a real impact.

Parkinson, though, feels that extending his contract is a declaration of faith from the club.

He said: “This just settles Ross down because he knows where he’s going to be next year. It shows we want him to be a part of it.

“He’s given up a job and good non-league wage to come here and you start having a few doubts.

“But I’ve been telling him that we’re going to extend it and it’s important we did this.”

Parkinson admitted he has been pestered with requests to take Hannah on loan. But he is very much in City’s long-term thinking.

“I get more calls on my phone about Ross than any other player with people wanting him.

“It’s his first year at this level and I feel he’s done well. He’s just been unlucky a couple of times with injuries at key moments.

“But we’re looking for a strong finish to this season now and I’m sure he will contribute goals.”

Hannah stepped up three levels from the Evo-Stik League and scored his first professional goal in August with the equaliser at to-morrow’s opponents Oxford.

Parkinson said: “It’s a massive jump he’s made and you’ve got to improve on every aspect of the game. Chances don’t come around as often, defenders are quicker and stronger and you’ve got to be fitter.

“But Ross has got that hunger, which is great to see. He gives you everything in training.

“He’s also got quality and he can strike a ball with his left foot as well as anybody. He knows how to anticipate chances in the box.

“He has a lot of work to do to keep improving, like any player. But we’re pleased with him. Ross is a great lad to have around and I think he’s got a chance.”

Hannah is expected to be on the bench again as City face Chris Wilder’s play-off chasers, looking for a first home win in 2012 at the sixth attempt.

Parkinson has a decision to make up front with Deane Smalley blocked from facing his parent club.

Craig Fagan is still feeling a hamstring problem, which City feel is triggered by his back, so James Hanson is likely to come straight in after missing a month with a groin injury.

Hanson and fellow casualties David Syers and Simon Ramsden were all back in full training yesterday.

Parkinson said: “We’ve got to make the right decisions. I don’t want to put anyone under undue risk of getting injured again.

“I’m very confident that when we get our strongest team out on the pitch, or close to it, we’re a match for anybody in this division. The problem we’ve had for quite a while is getting that team out. But there’s a lot of positivity around the training ground when you see these big players coming back.”

Parkinson, who is missing the suspended Ricky Raven-hill, is keen that his side do not blow another winning position as they did on Tuesday.

“It would be nice to put ourselves in a position where if a team does score late against us it’s only a consolation goal,” he said.

“They were a team for the taking and we didn’t do it. We had chances to kill the game off but the likes of Syers and Hanson coming back will help us do that.

“Now we go again tomorrow against a decent Oxford side. I saw them recently against Barnet and they were very good.

“Playing every Saturday and Tuesday is as tiring mentally as physically but the attitude has been first class.

“The camaraderie within the group is very good.”