SCOTT Barrow has signed a deal to remain at York City for the 2023-24 Vanarama National League season.

Barrow, 34, missed the entirety of last season after suffering a cruciate ligament injury in their 2-0 victory over Boston United in the Vanarama National League North play-off final, but has returned to pre-season training.

Former manager John Askey – now at City’s National League rivals Hartlepool United – insisted that the club owed the defender a duty of care, with Barrow using his long injury layoff to work in a range of off-field roles at the club.

The Welsh left-back has made a half-century of appearances since joining the Minstermen from Gateshead in summer 2020 and played an integral role in the side that won promotion to the National League via the play-offs in 2021-22.

Barrow is pleased to have signed a new deal at the club and is eager to return to the field, saying: “I’m delighted. It’s been a tough 12 or 13 months for myself coming back from a serious knee injury.

“It’s good to be back, I didn’t want my play-off game to be my last game at York, and I’m just glad I got this over the line and I'm back for another season.

"It does mean a lot to me [to be so close to a return from injury].

"So many times last year I just wanted to give up and I didn't want to play anymore because it is a serious knee injury.

"In the play-off final you have dreams of getting promoted and celebrating with your family and I didn't quite get to do that. I didn't touch the trophy, I didn't pick up a medal.

"Last year was tough and it was mentally challenging, but I'm quite lucky to have my teammates.

"Mikey [Morton], the gaffer, when he took over he saw that I was struggling quite a lot - he took me underneath his wing as well and helped me through what I thought was one of the toughest periods of my life."

He becomes the recipient of the first new deal handed out to an existing player under the Uggla family, with mother-and-son Matt and Julie-Anne purchasing Glen Henderson’s majority share in the club last week.

Their involvement has certainly brought with it a renewed excitement, with West Bromwich Albion midfielder Quevin Castro, winger Zanda Siziba, Levi Andoh and towering 6ft 6ins defender Kevin Joshua also coming through the doors of the LNER Community Stadium in that time.

The quartet could all make their debuts on Saturday, as York begin their pre-season by welcoming newly-promoted Sky Bet Championship outfit Sheffield Wednesday (1:30pm).