AARON Mclean is unlikely to be going anywhere for now.

While Phil Parkinson has been keen to get the striker out on loan, City will not let him leave on the cheap.

Peterborough made an offer to take Mclean back to the club where he first made his name. But while the player was keen on the move, the Telegraph & Argus understands they were only willing to pay a small fraction of his wages.

Two clubs from League Two, one thought to be Portsmouth, have also tried to take City’s top earner and have offered more but he is reluctant to drop a division.

Talks have taken place this week with Peterborough’s director of football Barry Fry. But City are not prepared to write off such a significant percentage of Mclean’s wages so they can take him.

Parkinson said: “It needs resolving. There is an offer from Peterborough and it’s out of my hands really, I can’t do any more.”

The door will be left open for the January transfer window but, unless the situation suddenly changes, Mclean will have to fight his way back into the manager’s plans in the meantime.

He has not kicked a ball for four games and has been left out of the squad since the Oldham defeat.

Mclean will not be involved tomorrow when City make the daunting trip to second-placed Preston, who are unbeaten in 20 league games at Deepdale.

Simon Grayson’s side have lost only once at home in 2014 – and that was to Championship opposition Nottingham Forest in February. But they are coming off successive away defeats.

Parkinson added: “We know it’s going to be tough but we’ve got to get our mentality strong. That’s the key for me.

“Even if you look at the Halifax game, a bit of sloppiness at the start could have cost us dearly.

“We’ve got to make sure that throughout the 90 minutes, whether we score or concede, we’ve got to stay really strong. We have to roll our sleeves up as a unit.

“It’s always a good surface there and a great football stadium. It’s tight and compact and we’re looking forward to the game.

“There are tests for us all round the pitch.

“People are talking about (Preston’s 11-goal top scorer) Joe Garner and I’ve got to say he’s a good player.

“But as a defender and a back four unit, that’s a great challenge for us. Can we keep one of the better strikers in the league quiet?

“We’ve got the qualities to do that – and if we do, it will give us a great chance. But concentration levels have to be absolutely right on the money.”

James Hanson trained the full session yesterday and could come back into contention. His recovery has persuaded City not to send him away for intensive treatment.

Jon Stead, who is expected to partner Billy Clarke up front, is recovering from his tight groin and took part in some of the work.

“Jon’s playing full of confidence,” said Parkinson. “The two goals Jon has scored have the quality of the next level up but he’s capable of that.”

If one of them fails to make it, City will consider bringing back Oliver McBurnie from Scotland under-19 duty as cover.

Parkinson will also make a late call on midfielder Gary Liddle, who is stepping up his training work following a slight hamstring strain.

City have collected only one point from the last 15, so the comeback victory at The Shay came as a timely morale boost. Parkinson also feels the under-18s reaching the FA Youth Cup third round has helped “a good week as a club”.

He said: “Coming off our win in a high-profile Yorkshire game at Halifax, that was a real positive for everyone. Some of the individual performances from the youth team were great.

“We’ve had a good draw in the next round of the FA Cup and they’ve got Liverpool coming up, so there’s a real spring in everybody’s step. That’s what comes from winning football games.”

Meanwhile, City will receive £12,500 after their FA Cup second-round tie with Dartford was moved back 24 hours to Sunday, December 7 to feature as part of BBC’s Final Score programme.