YORK City Knights will field a new trialist tonight when their under-20s take on Featherstone – one of three debutants in James Ford’s side.

Joining Heworth ARLC product Danny Simpson in donning the Knights shirt for the first time are fellow 17-year-old Liam Robinson, a prop from West Hull ARLC, and Fran Welsh, who played 15 times for Doncaster in Championship One last season and now comes to Huntington Stadium on trial.

Welsh, 20, was in junior set-ups with Hull and Castleford before joining the Dons after a spell with Upton ARLC.

Simpson, a half-back or full-back, Robinson and Welsh are all likely to start on the bench in a team which comprises mainly U19s players, barring Tyler Craig, Jake Joynt, Welsh himself, and Jack Pickles – who is the only overage player in York’s 17 tonight.

Back-rower Pickles, 21, has now signed pay-as-you-play first-team forms after a successful trial.

Hooker Harry Carter returns after recovering from a hairline fracture in a leg.

Featherstone will arrive at Huntington Stadium (8pm) with a few more overage players, after agreement from the Knights. Two are allowed in these Championship U20s league games unless the clubs agree to more, up to a maximum of five.

Rovers are running an U19s team in the Super League academy competition as well as this U20s team, and have had three players suspended following a brawl against Halifax, so have asked to fill holes with overage players, including newcomers. It is not thought any are established first-teamers.

Knights U20s manager Jack Stearman said: “As much as we would like to win games easily, it’s better for the lads to test themselves against better players.”

Knights U20s (probable): A Dent, Tomlinson, Roe, Craig, Gallacher, Morland, Green, Joynt, Carter, Stubbs, Parker, Pickles, Brining. Subs: Simpson, Welsh, Fitzsimmons, Robinson.