FOR most of the 100-or-so fans who made the trip to Arbroath’s tiny coastal stadium it wasn’t so much about who was on the pitch, as who was sat in the stand.

After keeping him out of the public eye for the majority of the warm-up, it was with a sheepish smile that former Newcastle United man Sammy Ameobi skipped up the stairs to take his seat next to injured Wanderers Derik Osede and Filipe Morais.

A chant went up instantly from those who noticed. But the word, and the excitement quickly spread around social media.

The free agent, who was on loan at the Macron Stadium last season, linked up with the squad on their Scottish trip but is yet to agree a deal with the club. He may not even feature in Friday’s game at Dundee.

But the sight of him in Wanderers training kit was certainly enough to brighten an otherwise straightforward pre-season exercise, won in the end with minimal fuss.

Wanderers had made great play of the fact Parkinson was picking a youthful side but the first-half team actually had plenty of experience in Mark Howard, Mark Little, Dorian Dervite, Adam Le Fondre and Chris Taylor.

It was young striker Connor Hall who proved the pick of the bunch, though, his energy and pace keeping the Arbroath back line on their toes throughout.

The 19-year-old arrived at the back end of last season on trial from Sheffield United and seems to have a physical presence about him which sets him out above the rest.

Bolton’s own Cole Lonsdale had a tough start to pre-season at Chorley on Saturday but his delivery down the left was much more consistent. Another academy gem, Harry Brockbank, looked composed against a tricky customer in Steven Doris.

The first half was a tale of two penalties, both scored within two minutes of each other.

The first, awarded for the softest of fouls on skipper for the night Le Fondre, was despatched down the middle by the Whites striker with relish.

Just as Wanderers seemed to have given themselves a foothold, Howard brought down livewire Doris, who also got up to smash an identical spot-kick into the roof of the net.

That seemed to spook the Whites, and some of the nervy defending before the break gave the Lichties’ front line some encouragement.

Things improved after the break and it wasn’t long before Parkinson’s men had edged ahead.

Again it was the strong running of Hall which forced the issue – his low cross being diverted by the home number five Tom O’Brien past stranded keeper Ricky Gomes.

On the hour, as promised, Parkinson made wholesale changes. Ben Alnwick had already replaced Howard at the break but the sight of 10 substitutions at once brought about a few mutters from home fans in the Main Stand who thought they had seen it all.

The more experienced 11 did not need to stretch themselves much to defend a lead, although Alnwick did make one useful stop at his near post from Jamie Henry.

With a bit more composure they could have extended their lead – Ryan White hit one volley over the bar and Andy Taylor was uncharacteristically wasteful with one chance to cross from the left.

Will Buckley and Gary Madine showed some promising link-up play late on which bodes well for the future but after the final whistle the talk once again turned towards the man in the stand.

“We agreed with Sammy on Saturday and his agent and Ken (Anderson) are just finalising that now,” Parkinson said.

“I was keen to get Sammy up training rather than leaving him down there and missing more. He was keen to do that.

“He has been doing his own work but we need him to be out there playing football and he’s done a few days now.

“There is a little bit more work to be done and we need to get the paperwork done in the next 24 hours but it would be great to have him on board.”

Wanderers (first 60 minutes): Howard (Alnwick 45), Little, Dervite, Brockbank, Lonsdale, C Taylor, King, Earing, Le Fondre, Hall, Tabakovic.

(last 30 minutes): Alnwick, A Taylor, Beevers, Vela, Karacan, Buckley, Madine, Pratley, Darby, Wheater, White.