Phil Parkinson wants City’s shadow squad to make him take notice by “sticking their heads above the parapet”.

Michael Bryan has forced his way back into the reckoning in recent games after impressing the boss in the reserves.

And Parkinson is urging the likes of Chris Mitchell, Mark Stewart, Nahki Wells and Jack Compton to follow his example and present their own strong case for selection.

He said: “We’ve got a group of players who are at a similar level in their career. There are five or six who are on the bench one week and not the next.

“I’m really looking for a couple of those to come out the pack and put their head above the parapet. I want them to show me that they should be in the team.

“They could do something like Michael did in the reserves at Gateshead. Steve (Parkin) and I are very straightforward people and if somebody produces a performance like he did for the reserves and then continues that in training then we feel he deserves a chance.”

Compton was back among the subs at Swindon as a reward for catching the eye during a training-ground game.

Parkinson added: “I thought he was terrific and I told him that’s why he made the bench last Saturday. It’s in Jack’s mind now that we are judging him all the time.”

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