YORK City Knights have secured some wonderful early Christmas cheer by re-signing star winger Austin Buchanan for 2005, the Evening Press can reveal.

The LHF Healthplan National League Two Young Player of the Year had been linked with a move to Super League club Hull and, after that fell through, top-tier teams Leigh Centurions and Wakefield were believed to be interested.

However, the former Leeds Rhinos youngster, who had been a free agent, will stay at Huntington Stadium.

Knights chief executive Steve Ferres said: "He enjoyed it with us last season and he's keen to have another year with us. He feels he developed a lot as a player with us in 2004 and all things being equal it's probably the best thing for him to have another season with us.

"I'm sure if he comes on next season as much as he did last season, it's likely he will get offers from some of the leading clubs in Super League."

The Knights' recruitment of Mick Cook from Leeds as the new coach will have played a part in Buchanan's decision. The flying wideman played under Cook at Headingley in the Rhinos' Academy team and also knows Leeds director of rugby Daryl Powell, who is part of the new Knights' coaching set-up.

Ferres added: "We believe it's best for him (Buchanan) to play with the Knights under Mick Cook and Daryl Powell. We have this link-up with Leeds Rhinos and he knows Mick Cook very well, and there's no doubt that played a part in his decision."

Buchanan first came to York in May and became an instant crowd favourite with his dazzling runs and try-scoring prowess, notching 15 tries and two goals in his 16 matches for the club.

He was then named in the NL2 All-Stars team of the year and collected the NL2 Young Player gong at the league's glittering awards ceremony.

His signature means the Knights will have one of the best wing pairings in NL2, with highly-rated Leeds Academy star Peter Fox on the other flank.

Ferres said: "There's ability and pace on both wings now and with Dan Potter in the centre we're going to be a threat out wide."

He added: "We haven't finished there.

"We're still searching for another centre and a prop but we're not desperate and there's no great urgency for either of those positions."

In worse news for the club, 'X'-rays have confirmed that second-row cum centre Ian Kirke did break a bone in his hand while playing for Great Britain Academic Lions at the weekend. He is likely to be out for four to six weeks and so could miss the start of the 2005 season.

Updated: 12:41 Thursday, December 23, 2004