Article C+P Luton striker Sam Parkin (r) It took me three years working hard at Swindon to get my move and I have ended up back where I started Sam Parkin It is understandable why Luton striker Sam Parkin wants to put the last two seasons behind him. What should have been his big chance to show what he could do in the Championship was ruined by a succession of injuries. Parkin has played just 30 games in two years, scoring six goals. It promised to be so different when Parkin left Swindon to join Ipswich for about £750,000 in June 2005. The former Chelsea trainee had scored 67 goals in 124 games in League One for the Robins and was wanted by a clutch of Championship clubs. Town won the race ahead of Norwich, Watford and Brighton but, after a promising start at Portman Road, Parkin's season was all but ended by a broken ankle the following November. He regained his fitness for the start of the 2006-2007 campaign but when the man who signed him, Joe Royle, left, Parkin found himself out in the cold under new Ipswich manager Jim Magilton. Preston and Coventry both tried to buy him before, in August 2006, Parkin opted to join Luton who had made a creditable start to the Championship season. But the optimism that comes with a fresh start did not last long. Problems with the same ankle led to him being sidelined in October and he missed the rest of the campaign. PARKIN'S GAMES AND GOALS Luton (06- ) P8 G1 Ipswich (05-06) P22 G5 Swindon (02-05) P142 G73 N'thmptn (loan 01-02) P46 G5 Oldham (loan 01) P7 G3 Wyc'mbe (loan 00-01) P13 G2 Millwall (loan 00) P7 G4 Chelsea (00-02) P0 G0 In his absence, the Hatters went into freefall and, after manager Mike Newell was sacked, ended up relegated. It means Parkin, 26, returns to the third tier of English football next season fully aware that his career is in need of a kick-start. "It has been an awful couple of years in all honesty," Parkin told BBC Sport. "I didn't have any injuries until I signed for Ipswich but since then I have been dogged. "Personally I think it is just important now that I get back on track and get playing and scoring again. "And it was horrendous watching the Luton team slide last season. We started so brightly and then things went against us - we had a lot of injuries and selling players didn't help. "We just fell away and once we were on a bad run we could not get ourselves out of it." Parkin could only watch the freefall from the sidelines and he added: "It took me three years working hard at Swindon to get my move and I have ended up back where I started. "But I have still got another two years on my contract here and there is plenty of time left in my career to get back playing at a higher level. "I had three amazing years at Swindon but I don't want to be remembered as being a success at only one club. I want to be successful elsewhere too. Luton striker Sam Parkin I would prefer to be playing in the Championship but it would be nice to get a few goals and try to get Luton back up there Sam Parkin "What I was capable of a couple of years ago I am sure I am capable of now, once I get a few games under my belt and my fitness back up." So far, Parkin's recovery is going to plan and he hopes to be ready for pre-season training at the start of July. Since he last pulled on a Luton shirt there have been plenty of changes at Kenilworth Road - David Pinkney has taken over as chairman and Kevin Blackwell replaced Newell as boss. And Parkin is keen for himself and the Hatters to return to the Championship as quickly as possible. "I would imagine there are going to be a lot of changes at the club this summer - there will be a lot going out and a lot coming in," he explained. "Hopefully we can challenge. We will wait and see what kind of squad we have but I am sure we will be there or thereabouts. "I have only spoken to Kevin Blackwell briefly and he has obviously not seen a great deal of me so it will be even more a case of starting from scratch with me at the start of pre-season. "I have scored goals at that level before too. I would prefer to be playing in the Championship but it would be nice to get a few goals and try to get Luton back up there. "I am on the mend and am just looking forward to getting back involved because it feels a bit alien to me at the moment. It will be nice to be back out on the pitch."
Why would Aidy want to sign him? To think we might have got this crock and missed out on King or Hendo!
More than that mate. Because Parkin and Forster blanked us, we got lumped with 3rd choice dregs - Marlon King. That's like stepping over a dog **** and standing in a gold mine. Can't beleive t-u-r-d got blanked.
Absolutley hilarious...bet he's kicking himself he chose Ipshit over us. Now he's playing for scum in League One, while we'll be launching ANOTHER push to get BACK to the PREMIERSHIP! :]]
I think it will take more than Mr Parkin to get Luton out of the ***** that they are in, good luck to him.......NOT!
