LOCAL favourite Lee Paterson has admitted he would love to captain York City Knights permanently.

The 24-year-old appears to be heading the race to take over the role from the departed Chris Levy having been given the armband for Sunday's opening friendly of 2006 against Leeds.

Head coach Mick Cook said "four or five" players were in the running but he confirmed player of the year Paterson was among them, and the York-born ace told the Evening Press he would relish the responsibility.

"I don't know if it's a permanent thing but it was nice to lead the team out," said Paterson, who was told he had the armband 24 hours before the game.

"Cooky said he was looking for a leader in the team and I've tried to do what I could.

"I'd love to do it. They're a good bunch of blokes and it would be great to lead them out and try to set a good example.

"If I don't get it, it won't be a problem. It doesn't guarantee you a shirt every week, as we saw last year."

Paterson was satisfied with the run-out against Leeds.

"We got better over the 80 minutes and we can look at things we were good at and not so good at," he said.

"If we improve on Friday (against Wakefield) and then again against Hull, we'll be going in the right direction. We can't be too disappointed although we lost."

Paterson won promotion to National League One with Keighley two years ago only to be relegated 12 months later, but said things were shaping up well for York as they try to stop the trend of NL2 winners falling straight back down.

"The intensity has to rise from last year and I think we've got the personnel to do that," he said.

"There's a lot of talk about relegation or top six but we will take every week as it comes and do our best.

"Pre-season has been tough but we've all worked really hard and the new blokes have gelled well.

"The fitness programmes aren't always enjoyable but they've got to be done.

"Cooky and (fitness coach) Colin Sanctuary always vary things, though, so you're never doing the same thing over and over.

"Everyone's fighting for a shirt and we all know if we have an off-game there's a fair chance we'll have to wait to get back in, which is good for the squad."

Whatever happens, Paterson will at least avoid the ignominy of going another year without a try, his blank 2005 having led to a naked lap of the training pitch as a forfeit.

"That could be me for the season," he joked after scoring twice against Leeds.

"I've been told that tries in friendlies don't count, but I'm top points-scorer at the club as it stands, which has to mean something. I doubt it will last."

Updated: 09:41 Wednesday, January 18, 2006