ACE of pace Alex Godfrey is confident York City Knights can bounce back with a bang against National League Two leaders Keighley.

The 24-year-old winger, who played at full-back in the absence of knee injury victim Chris Smith in the Knights' loss at Chorley, reckons they can put that behind them and return to winning ways in tomorrow's crucial game.

"We needed his injury like a hole in the head," said Godfrey of Smith. "We are gutted for him and he is gutted as well.

"But we're definitely in with a shout tomorrow, even with our injuries. We had gone four games without losing before Chorley and I can't see anybody else playing as well as we did up at Workington or at Hunslet.

"Keighley lost at Sheffield a few weeks ago and they only scraped past Swinton last time out so hopefully they're on a downer and we're on the up. We fancy it and we're keen."

Godfrey himself has been struggling since the Chorley match with a knee niggle and a thumb injury - the same thumb he broke earlier in the season - while the hernia problem that has plagued him all season has not fully cleared up. But he is confident he will be on form tomorrow, playing either at full-back or back on the flank now that Jonny Woodcock has arrived on loan from Doncaster.

He added: "Playing at full-back gives me more responsibility. I'm worried a bit about letting the team down but I played there before quite a bit at Hull KR and I enjoyed it. I'm confident to do it if that's where I'm picked.

"When you play at full-back it's about knowing who runs what angles. It's a case of getting to know everyone's game.

"I might be back on the wing tomorrow, it's up the coach, but either way I'll be giving 110 per cent."

Updated: 11:57 Saturday, July 12, 2003