BURTON Albion boss Paul Peschisolido is undecided whether to try to keep Tom Parkes at the Pirelli Stadium.
The defender, 20 this week, made a surprise appearance on the bench for the Brewers in Saturday’s League Two defeat against Plymouth Argyle at Home Park.
It was the first time the Leicester City player had been involved in an Albion game since suffering a broken ankle in August.
But his current loan deal runs out in eight days’ time, leaving Peschisolido with something of a dilemma.
The Brewers boss said: “I rate Tom as a player, which is why I’ve signed him three times now — but I’ve also got to look after the interests of the club.
“We’ve had to pay his wages since August and I don’t want to be in a situation where we renew the loan and then Tom goes down injured again.
“I’m not saying that’s going to happen because he looked fit and strong when he returned to us and joined in training last week.
“But he’s not played for a heck of long time and it’s not unusual for players to get (muscle) tweaks and pulls when they try to get back into the swing of things.
“I was very close to putting Tom in the side at Plymouth, but in the end I decided against it because it would have been asking a lot of a player who has had no competitive football in six months.”
Parkes has had mixed fortunes in his three loan spells with the Brewers.
He made 22 appearances for them in the 2010/11 campaign after Peschisolido had parted company with Guy Branston.
Parkes returned in March of last term but was sent off on his first outing against Oxford United and made only five appearances.
However, Peschisolido brought a leaner and fitter Parkes back to the Pirelli Stadium last summer.
The defender had more misfortune when he was sent off on the opening day of the season after collecting two yellow cards in the 2-2 draw against Torquay United.
Parkes quickly regained his place in the team only to break his ankle in the 1-1 draw against Port Vale at the Pirelli Stadium on August 16.
