By Paul Fletcher

It would be another feather in my cap to help Hull stay up - it is a challenge that I am up for Ray Parlour

Ray Parlour was training with his old club Arsenal to keep himself fit when the call came.

It was early February and Hull City manager Phil Brown was on the other end of the phone.

Did Ray fancy helping out his struggling Championship team for the remainder of the season?

Parlour had only recently had his contract with Middlesbrough cancelled and returned south to be close to his children.

"I told Phil that having moved down from the north I did not really want to go back," Parlour told BBC Sport.

"I had a couple of other offers from Championship sides but a lot of them were up north and they would have wanted me to move up there again. I wasn't really interested in that.

"It wasn't fair to move my two little ones again - especially with big issues like schools to consider.

"But Phil gave me the opportunity to come to come up to Hull for a couple of days a week knowing that I will keep fit training with Arsenal.

"And if it does not work out I can walk away as I'm on a pay-as-you-play deal."

Parlour spent 13 years with Arsenal before moving to Boro in July 2004.

As soon as he secured his release from Boro - he had not played all season and saw no point remaining with them for the remaining months of his contract - he called Arsene Wenger.

The young kids at Arsenal are fantastic - they have really impressed me in training Ray Parlour on training with Arsenal

Parlour now trains with Arsenal on Monday and Tuesday, has a recovery day on Wednesday and trains again with the Gunners on Thursday before heading north.

"It has been a lot of fun and if I can help a few of the youngsters coming through, all the better," said the midfielder, who was dubbed "The Romford Pele" by Arsenal fans.

"The training is very good and leaving Boro has been a good move for me.

"The young kids at Arsenal are fantastic - they have really impressed me in training. It is all about good football - passing and movement.

"It has not changed a lot training-wise from when I was there but the kids look a lot sharper these days."

Parlour often provided the graft in the heart of midfield at Highbury but nevertheless scored a spectacular goal against Chelsea in the 2002 FA Cup Final.

He also won the FA Cup four times, the Premiership three times and the League Cup and European Cup Winners' Cup once during his Arsenal career.

Add to the mix 10 England caps, two Uefa Cup runners-up medals and one each for the FA Cup and the European Cup Winners' Cup and Parlour can reflect on a glittering career at the top.

Yet speaking to him it is clear that he is enthused by the very different challenge of keeping Hull in the Championship.

"It is exciting," added Parlour.

RAY PARLOUR'S CAREER Clubs: Arsenal (3/91-7/04) 464 appearances, Boro (7/04-2/07) 60 appearances, Hull (2/07-) International career: 10 England caps Honours: FA Premier League 1998, 2002, 2004, FA Cup winner 1993, 1998, 2002, 2003 League Cup 1993 European Cup Winners' Cup 1994 Uefa Cup 2000

"I always give it 100% on the pitch and I'm sure every manager I have played for would say that.

"I wouldn't just come up here to Hull for the sake of it, to have a bit of a laugh.

"I am coming up here to try to do well for Hull. It would be another feather in my cap to help Hull stay up. It is a challenge and one that I am up for."

Parlour believes that you approach a game in the same way whether you are pushing for a title or battling relegation.

"Top or bottom - you still got to do the same things and that is win games," he said.

"I'm sure if Hull stay up it will be like winning the league."

Parlour made his debut as a substitute in the 2-2 draw at high-flying Derby but his first start came in the 3-0 defeat at relegation rivals Barnsley.

However, Parlour's first game at the KC Stadium saw the Tigers beat Birmingham 2-0 on Saturday to lift Hull out of the bottom three.

It was the first time Parlour has seen Hull's impressive stadium - but he his hopeful that he will have plenty more opportunities to adjust to his new surroundings.

"The next 12 games are very important for me," he said.

"I want to play as much as I can. I'm definitely hoping to stay next season."