RICHARD Agar fears his York City Knights squad is virtually back to square one after another spate of injuries and enforced absences.

Agar has been hit with an ever-growing list of absentees in recent weeks and the problem worsened further today with the news that second-row Tom Andrews will be out for the foreseeable future because of work commitments.

Furthermore, Craig Forsyth is a doubt for Sunday's Arriva Trains Cup tie at Halifax as he may need to rest a knock picked up in last week's win over Swinton, joining fellow prop Yusuf Sozi, who has a recurrent ankle problem, on the treatment table.

The Press also revealed yesterday that impact hooker Jimmy Elston may need knee cartilage surgery and, with winger Alex Godfrey still ill, it all means Agar is down to the bare bones for this weekend's big cup clash at The Shay.

In other news, crocked winger Chris Smith has finally had surgery on his troublesome knee injury which has restricted him to one appearance since February.

The Wales international had his long-awaited arthroscopy yesterday which, according to a Knights spokesperson, revealed "significant damage".

It is believed Smith's previous arthroscopy, back in March, had not cleaned out all the floating bone in the knee, but this time he went to the top knee surgeon in the North and it is believed the operation was successful. The 28-year-old should now be back in action within six weeks.

Agar told the Evening Press the list of absentees meant he was now actively searching for new talent.

He said: "We are now looking around for new players. Obviously in the space of a week - certainly a month - the squad has been depleted and is probably at its lowest point it has been all season.

"We are going to look to try and get some new players in to fill the gaps."

Mark Stewart returned Down Under because he could no longer afford to live in England, work commitments ruled out Danny Seal and now second rower Andrews is the latest to be wiped out by non-rugby issues.

Said Agar: "He is starting a new job that is not going to enable him to get to training. He's had few games but has had a bit of an injury this season which has kept him out at times and he is very well thought of within the club.

"We think Tommy has the ability to be one for the future for us but we are going to lose him for the foreseeable future.

"It is a blow and he's pretty gutted about it. He's been faced with the situation where he has had an opportunity to take on a better job and has decided that will probably be better for him in the long run.

"It's just one of the pitfalls of rugby league at this level when some lads find jobs which mean they can't fit training in."

Meanwhile, Godfrey's on-off relationship with the sick room is continuing as the 14-try winger is struggling with tonsilitis, having shaken off a stubborn hamstring strain.

But at least Simon Friend has recovered from the hamstring niggle picked up last week and will be in Sunday's squad. It is thought fellow second-row Mick Ramsden, prop Dan Briggs and winger Rob Kama may be in line for recalls to the 17.

Updated: 10:22 Friday, June 04, 2004