Ex-Hammers striker Ashikodi agrees to Minstermen loan spell

Ashikodi, who suffered a broken leg during a loan spell at Bradford City five years ago, has joined the Blue Square Premier side on loan until January with a view to a longer deal.

Manager Gary Mills said: “We’ve signed a very, very good striker, I’ve been talking about him for a while and trying to get him to York. He’s a goalscorer and he’s here on a loan basis. I am delighted to have him.”

Nigerian-born Ashikodi was once the youngest player in Football League history after making his debut for Millwall eight years ago aged 15 years and 240 days.

Now 24, he has subsequently played for West Ham United, Gillingham, Rangers, Watford, Shrewsbury Town, Ebbsfleet United and Kettering but has failed to settle at any of the clubs.

Huddersfield Town have moved to cover the suspension of Alan Lee by drafting in Cardiff striker Jon Parkin on loan.

Parkin, 29, who is set to be included in the squad for Monday night’s top-of-the-table clash at Charlton, will stay at the Galpharm Stadium until January 23, while Terriers forward Lee sits out a three-game ban following his dismissal in the weekend win over Notts County.

Town manager Lee Clark said: “We feel Jon will be able to fill the gap that has been made due to Alan’s suspension.”

Teenage midfielder Matt Crooks has signed his first professional contract at Town.

Crooks, 17, had been training with Town’s first-team squad since the summer and was an unused substituted for the FA Cup first-round defeat at Cambridge United.

Rotherham United manager Andy Scott is lining-up Brentford winger Sam Wood as a replacement for the injured Gareth Evans.

Wood, 25, is set to join the Millers on loan today and make his debut in Saturday’s League Two clash with Crawley Town. Evans, meanwhile, is out for a month after damaging ankle ligaments.