PACY Leeds Rhinos Academy winger Peter Fox is the latest to put pen to paper for the York City Knights and is confident of driving the team to National League Two glory.

The lightning-quick York 20-year-old has signed for the season on loan from Leeds Rhinos to enhance his development as a player and give the Knights a touch of his pace in their promotion campaign.

Training with the championship-winning Leeds Rhinos first team towards the end of last season gave him a taste of success - and he is desperate to repeat that in the colours of his home-town club.

He said: "It's going to be really good. I have seen York quite a few times and I have got a bit of pride for them so it will be great to play.

"We will definitely go through and win it this year without a doubt. We will go up to division one."

The former York Acorn and England under-16 player has lit up York pitches as a member of the York Ironsides squad in 2002 and 2003, and also turned out for the Rhinos in last season's friendly against the Knights. And Knights fans are sure to be delighted to have him on board.

He said: "I'm not big-headed but I suppose I have got a lot of pace and I pull tries out of nowhere, especially from kick returns, and my defence is good as well."

Knights chief executive Steve Ferres said: "He is a highly regarded member within the Leeds set-up but his chances of getting in the first team are being blocked by Marcus Bai and Mark Calderwood.

"Peter's coming to us for a season with a view to progressing to the point where he can return to Leeds and start challenging for the first team.

"It's a big stepping stone for him. The fact that he is a local lad is great that he wants to play with the Knights and hopefully he will achieve what he is aiming for. This is an ideal opportunity to take that chance."

Fox is the first player to benefit from the partnership deal between the Super League outfit and the Knights, which has already seen Rhinos academy coach Mick Cook installed as Knights head coach.

Ferres said: "It is a big benefit to both the clubs and the player."

And Fox agreed. "It's a good link," he said. "They are using it to develop players with a view to getting them promoted to the first team. It's a step up for me and this year will be all about getting that experience of the higher level.

"Hopefully I will then be able to take that back to Leeds and I will be getting into the first team in the 2006 season."

He continued: "I'm really looking forward to playing for York.

"It's another step in my career and it will be a good experience, especially under Mick Cook, who was the coach at the Academy last year.

"I am under pressure to perform but I don't really see it that way. I see it as developing myself as a player."

Updated: 10:15 Friday, November 19, 2004