PHIL Parkinson insists he has no issue with Alan Sheehan after the on-loan defender aired his frustration at being out of favour at City.

Sheehan, now back at former club Notts County, revealed that he had to train on his own and was unable to break into the “inner circle” in the dressing room.

But Parkinson said: “I don’t quite know what he meant there.

“When players aren’t in the team they are always a little bit disgruntled. But Alan’s a decent lad and I hope it goes well for him.

“I think it’s always difficult for a senior player when they are not in the team.

“We agreed to let Alan go on loan and then he had an injection in his groin that put him back. He wasn’t available for training.

“He trained with the first team for a couple of days but as we were coming to the match preparation, I just wanted to focus on the team.

“I felt it was right for him to work on his fitness with Nick (Allamby) separately and he was more than happy to do that.”

Sheehan played three times at the start of the season for City but has been unable to unseat James Meredith from the regular left-back slot.

Parkinson also recruited Greg Leigh as cover in the summer and the youngster will get his chance next week when Meredith disappears on international duty with Australia.

The City boss added: “We brought Al in as a left back who could play centre back. But last year we always felt Andrew Davies was better there and Mezza was better at left back.

“Mezza had a bit of a slow start this season but we like him (as a player). We also brought Greg Leigh in because we felt if it had got to the stage where Alan hadn’t got into the team then it would be right for him to move on.

“We’ve just had better players in his positions.

“But when you’ve been captain of Notts County, which he was, it’s always harder to be out of the team. It’s no more than that.

“I actually get on all right with Al and there’s no problem. But I’ve got to do what I must to get the dressing room right.

“Sometimes, when you’ve got senior players out the team, you’re best off having a hungry one like Greg Leigh who’s got a point to prove.

“We can work with Greg and try and improve him.”