City new boy Greaves rejects 'back injury' claims

10:29am Tuesday 20th May 2008

YORK City's new signing Mark Greaves has assured supporters that he has not joined the club with a back injury.

Burton Albion boss Nigel Clough cited a "back problem" as one of the reasons for releasing Greaves at the end of last season, reasoning that travelling from his home in Hull and his advancing years would only aggravate the situation.

But the 33-year-old utility man insists he will start next season with a clean bill of health.

The former Hull City and Boston United defender said: "I had a back operation three or four years ago, but it only seems to have become well-documented over the last four months. I've played 80 games over the last two seasons and the only time I was unavailable for Burton was when my jaw was broken.

"There's no indication that I have a bad back, as despite the two-and-a-half hour journey to Burton, I played most matches. I'm in good shape and Nigel Clough perhaps felt he'd rather get somebody younger in from just around the corner.

"From where I live, York is just 45 minutes away, which is absolutely perfect from my point of view. York was my number one option and I spoke to Colin Walker within an hour of leaving Burton because I was keen to get things sorted quickly."

Greaves is also looking forward to lining up alongside fellow summer signing Michael Ingham as well as former Boston team-mate Simon Rusk in next season's Blue Square Premier, adding: "I've played against Michael a few times and I believe we have signed a 'keeper who will be as good as any in this league.

"Rusky has told me we have got a lot of decent players at the club and, although he's yet to find his feet at York, I can assure fans he will be a good player once he gets going and, hopefully, it will help us both having a familiar face around.

"York had a good second half of the season and a great campaign the season before. It was just one half of a season that set the club back and, hopefully, we can get back on track next season."

The 6ft 1in Greaves has also expressed no preference as to where Walker plays him on the pitch, having played both in the centre of midfield and defence during 12 years as a professional.

He said: "I prefer centre-half because I'm more of a natural there.

"Managers have also played me in midfield though because I'm quite fit and can get around the pitch even though I'm nearly 50 according to some people.

"Last season, Nigel Clough wanted me to get in the box a lot with my height and strength to create a few goals for Daryl Clare. I'm better at being destructive rather than constructive, but I could still set up a few goals in whatever capacity I am used."

Greaves' goal tally of five for Burton during 2007/08 was his best in a season, having netted 22 times in total during 417 senior matches.

He was on the scoresheet with a header during Burton's 4-3 defeat of the Minstermen last August and hopes he can improve the KitKat Crescent club's potency at set-pieces next season, saying: "Most of my goals are headers. I don't get too many overhead kicks and I also try to get a few knockdowns from corners and free-kicks."

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