CHRIS Langley has welcomed the arrival of another central attraction to York City Knights, believing it to be a huge boost in the club's promotion push.

Langley was a team-mate of fellow centre Dale Cardoza at Super League outfit Huddersfield, and the two were to meet up again today after the latter signed on at Huntington Stadium.

As reported in later editions of yesterday's Evening Press, former Warrington star Cardoza has joined on loan from National League One favourites Leigh Centurions until the end of the season.

And Langley reckoned it was a great signing. "It will give everybody a boost," he told the Press.

"He's a strong, powerful runner, an exciting player and a match-winner and hopefully we can get the best out of him.

"Dale's the sort of player who can touch the ball two or three times in a game and come up with two or three tries. In this division he can cause teams many problems."

Cardoza, 24, will go straight into the 17 for tomorrow's NL2 game at Workington (ko 3pm), probably starting on the bench.

"One of the main things is that he provides more competition for places," said Langley.

"We're quite thin on the ground at the moment and not only will he boost the squad but once all the lads are back it increases competition and keeps everybody, including myself, on their toes."

Knights head coach Richard Agar said everyone at the club was excited by Cardoza's arrival. "He's got the potential to set this division alight," he said.

"He's a very explosive player, a proven match-winner. I've played against him and I know what a handful he is.

"He's had some niggling injuries, but he just wants to get back playing.

"We think we can provide him with the right environment to enjoy playing."

York have on-loan forwards Richard Wilson, who has sined on a permanent deal from Hull KR, and Johnny Wainhouse available tomorrow after being cup-tied for the Arriva Trains Cup semi-final loss at Hull KR, while in a big boost loose-forward Damian Ball returns from injury.

Prop Wilson had been on loan at Huntington Stadium since mid-April, starting every match in the team's recent eight-game winning streak, which ended in the cup semi-final at Hull KR.

He has now signed until the end of the season, though it is not known if a fee was involved.

Agar has named a 19-man travelling squad and, although he was leaving it late to decide his line-up, hinted at standing down a forward, with Darren Callaghan, Craig Forsyth or John Smith due a rest after "a heavy workload".

He added: "We will be looking to bounce back. We know what we've got to do and how to do it."

Agar's 'upset' warning

KNIGHTS boss Richard Agar has admitted tomorrow's game is a potential 'banana skin' in their promotion push.

Hosts Workingon are set to field an unchanged side to that which came from 18-4 down to hammer Dewsbury 44-22 a fortnight ago, and Agar reckons Gerard Stokes' men "deserve plenty of respect".

New Zealand 'A' full-back Lusi Sione scored on his Town debut against the Rams and Agar reckons he and experienced half-back Tane Manihera are dangermen.

He said: "Sione is never far from where the ball's going to be and he's a try scorer, he's a guy we will have to be aware of, and Tane Manihera on his day is capable of producing a big play."

TOMORROW'S SQUADS

Workington (probable): Sione, Woodcock, Frazer, Wilson, Lewthwaite, Boylan, Manihera, Tunstall, Limmer, Burgess, McGlasson, Tuimaualuga, Pettit, B Smith, Wright, McGuiness, Robinson.

Knights: from Graham, Buchanan, Langley, Wood, Walker, Rhodes, Brough, Wilson, Jackson, Sozi, J Smith, Friend, Ball, Wainhouse, Cain, Callaghan, Forsyth, Kama, Cardoza.

Updated: 10:06 Saturday, July 03, 2004