A TRIO of new faces could be on show at York Wasps by next week.

Coach Lee Crooks is hoping to tie up loan deals with two players from Hull FC over the weekend, as well as appointing a new assistant coach.

Wasps chief executive Ann Garvey was due to continue negotiations with her Hull counterpart Shane Richardson today and is confident that an agreement can be reached.

The players Crooks has in mind are a centre and a second-row forward which would complete his squad ahead of the start of the Northern Ford Premiership season on December 3.

On the coaching front, it is believed Crooks has already lined up an assistant and an appointment is imminent

The job was originally offered to Grant Anderson, Crooks' assistant at Keighley Cougars, but he turned it down because of work commitments.

One concern is the lack of a physio. The first pre-season friendly takes place next Friday at home to Hunslet Hawks and at present there is currently no-one on board to treat injuries.

The post is being advertised and it is hoped a suitable applicant will come forward before the first game.

The players have already begun picking up knocks, with Darren Hughes suffering shin splints and Gareth Stephens a calf strain. However, the pair have been seeing a private physio and should be fit for next Friday's match.

Meanwhile, the Army training day at Strensall Barracks, scheduled to take place today, has been cancelled.

The outing was organised by Wasps newcomer Richie Baxter, an Army physical training instructor based at Strensall, and was due to feature circuit training, a five-mile log run and paintballing.

But the Army have been forced to pull out because of their commitments to the flooding crisis, including a gym full of sand-bags.

Regular training has so far been going well, although work commitments have caused a few problems. Crooks explained: "We haven't had a full complement of players at any training session yet. But they are all working very hard in the gym.

"If we are going to be criticised this season then one thing we won't be criticised for is fitness."

Crooks has a few questions he will be looking to answer in the three pre-season friendlies, when everybody in the squad will get a game.

Gareth Dobson, Alan Pallister and Adam Briggs will be vying for the hooker's role while Spencer Hargrave and Mick Ramsden compete for the loose forward spot

Crooks will also consider whether to play New Zealander Michael Smith in the front or second row, and whether to shift new signing Hughes from centre to the back row.