WANDERERS are confident Sammy Ameobi’s progress this season will put them in good stead when it comes to talking contracts.

The winger has been in good form for the Whites since returning from a knee injury but with time ticking down on his deal at the Macron, fans are anxious to see his future secured.

Ameobi decided to return to the North West in the summer after a successful loan spell in the first half of last season based largely on his relationship with Parkinson.

And after bringing the former Newcastle United star up to speed once again, the Whites boss is hopeful he can tie the player down to a longer spell.

“It is in my mind – but what can we do? I want him to be getting the headlines and for people to be talking about our players. It’s rightly so because at the moment he’s looking a real threat,” he said of possible contract talks.

“He is a difficult players for teams to deal with and he gives opposing managers something different to think about.

“I think I have got a good working relationship with Sammy, I think I understand what I need to do to get the best out of him.”

Parkinson admits Ameobi’s return to Newcastle United in January – just as the promotion battle in League One was hotting up – was one of the most difficult hurdles to negotiate in his time at the club.

“When he initially went back it was a worry for us,” he said. “To try and get that type of player in, and what he can offer to the team, was very difficult.

“I ended up having to change the shape of the team because having thought long and hard about what we could do we didn’t think we’d be as good in that formation without him. We needed the points return to be just as good.

“We went two up top, big and powerful with a back three, and it was a different look to the team.”

Ameobi has already matched his best-ever goal-scoring return of three this season and Parkinson believes there is plenty more to come.

“His belief is getting stronger each week and I think physically he’s getting better and better,” he said. “That’s the key.

“When we took him in last season we had a player who’d been sub a lot, brought off a lot, even though he’s clearly a talent. He has got the confidence in himself now.”