CLARETS hero Gary Parkinson is days away from returning home.

The former fullback and 1994 play-off winner has been in a specialist rehabilitation unit at Priory Highbank Centre, Bury, since suffering a severe stroke in September, 2010.

He is suffering from Locked-in Syndrome, a rare condition which has forced his body to shut down and left the 43-year-old unable to move or speak.

But he has been for day visits home and hopes to regain his speech after an operation on his vocal chords.

Once that operation is complete, he should be able to move back in to the family home in Bolton.

His wife of 21 years, Deborah, said in an interview with Radio Lancashire last night that he is set to be allowed home to continue his recovery.

She said: “The biggest news is that we are going to get Gary back home. Gary is looking forward to the future and is quite focused.

“He is cognitively very aware and his sense of humour is still there.

“We are adapting the house, putting in a lift and trying to make his life back at home as comfortable as possible.”

The Parkinsons were able to enjoy a ‘fantastic’ Christmas Day together and Deborah said Gary would be ‘happy just to sleep in the garage’ if it meant returning to the family home.

She added: “Gary is keen to try anything and everything. He keeps telling the staff ‘more’.

“They say they’ve never met anyone as motivated as Gary. He has more good days than bad.

“He is starting to become aware of what’s happened to him. “Sometimes he sits there for many hours and looks back and thinks ‘why me’.

“But on the whole he is excited about the house and he is moving forward.”

Deborah also thanked fans from all Gary’s previous clubs for their support and donations.

Fundraising efforts are continuing as Gary, who played 130 times for Burnley, will need private physiotherapy once he is discharged from the specialist unit.

Visit garyparky.co.uk.