YORK City Knights have signed loose forward Craig McDowell from Keighley Cougars.

McDowell, 23, was highly rated as a youngster and Bradford Bulls were forced to pay a signing-on fee to snatch him away from St Helens.

The Cumbrian-born player, who still lives in Bradford, is hoping to fulfil his early promise with the Knights after being forced to take a recent break from the game because of his job commitments as a social worker.

Delighted Knights chief executive Steve Ferres said: "He's got the ability to take the ball to the line and put players in through a hole, as well as having the ability to run through a hole himself.

"He's young, enthusiastic and wants to put his career back on track - he's had half a season at Keighley after being out of the game for a few months and he believes our coaching regime at York can help him do that."

Knights are also close to agreeing terms with a prop forward but Ferres added that the club had narrowly missed out on bringing Jordan James and Andy Raleigh to the Huntington Stadium.

James has signed for Castleford while Raleigh has joined Sheffield.

Ferres said: "They had both agreed to come to York unless there was interest from clubs in higher divisions. Unfortunately, we have missed out on them, as they have both signed for first division clubs."

Updated: 09:45 Tuesday, November 16, 2004