ED SMITH is back in training and could win a recall to York City Knights’ squad for Sunday’s daunting trip to Leigh Centurions.

Boss Dave Woods was contemplating including the teenage prodigy in a provisional squad which goes to Lancashire seeking vital – if surprise – Co-operative Championship points.

Woods was also set to name Lee Waterman in a 19-man squad – only for the centre to damage ankle ligaments in last night’s reserves defeat at Leigh.

Otherwise, Woods could field the same 17 that earned some plaudits when taking on Leigh’s table-top rivals, Featherstone, last weekend.

The Knights will find themselves entrenched in the drop zone on Sunday night if they return to York with nothing – as Dewsbury and Hunslet, both of whom are a point below them, meet at Tetley’s Stadium.

Smith has been out of the reckoning since damaging a knee and an ankle in a reserves match four weeks ago.

Chris Thorman and James Ford almost certainly remain sidelined, though. Key half-back Thorman broke a thumb at Dewsbury on June 26 and Ford pulled a quad muscle in training ahead of last week’s defeat by Featherstone.

Both are hopeful of playing again this season but are currently rated touch and go for next Thursday’s key televised clash at home to Halifax, the penultimate match of the campaign.

Only the trip to Sheffield Eagles, on September 4, follows.

Second-row Duane Straugheir, one of the form players in recent months before breaking a bone in a foot in training on July 31, is trying to get fit for that last hurrah but a return this season is highly improbable.