YOUNG Tom Dunmore will return to the York City Knights line-up for the first time in over a year tomorrow after the back line was hit by yet more injuries.

The 20-year-old former York Acorn ARLC junior has been promoted from the academy after winger Lee Lingard was ruled out by an ankle injury and Chris Spurr suffered a reaction to his ankle problem.

Dunmore, who played at full-back in the academy's notable 24-24 draw with Halifax on Thursday, will take Lingard's place on the wing for the visit of Hunslet, which boss Mick Cook believes will be his team's hardest test so far in National League Two following defeat to Gateshead and victory over London Skolars.

"They've made some good signings," said Cook of the Hawks. "They've a big pack and are good at half-back.

"Our games against Hunslet are traditionally very competitive and physical. There's always a bit of controversy here and there, and I don't think this game will be any different."

Dunmore, who left Hull's academy 18 months ago to join up with home-town club York, scored two tries in three appearances early last season before his progress was hit by work commitments.

But he has been training with the club since pre-season and, after he did well for the academy in their opening two games, Cook has no qualms about throwing him back into the first-team ranks.

"He's played first-grade before with us," he said. "He's been looking okay and he'll go well for us."

Lingard suffered a slight ankle strain in the Gateshead game on Friday and it swelled up after the Skolars match on Monday, so he joins fellow wingers Alex Godfrey and Johnny Waldron on the sidelines. Spurr, another threequarter, was hoping to return after missing the Skolars game, but felt soreness in his ankle after training.

In better news, Jamaine Wray is fit to return at hooker against his former club, meaning Jim Elston starts on the bench alongside Nathan Priestley, and two of Joe Helme, John Smith and Toby Williams, who all played for the academy on Thursday, Cook leaving it late to decide.

The starting 13 is otherwise similar to that which beat the Skolars, with Jonny Liddell continuing at scrum-half as the Knights still await news from Hull about Anthony Thackeray's loan return.

Cook said: "We know we under-performed at Gateshead. We put in a half-decent show on Monday, but we know we have to be better.

"I thought there probably was complacency, but we have to have the same attitude every game. We have to be up for it as much if not more than the opposition."

Hawks coach Mark Cass might bring back Dave Gibbons but will probably wait another week. Cass said: "We played York on Boxing Day in a friendly and I know how they play. They're a good side but we've got to go there with confidence."

The referee is Paul Carr, a controversial figure in York's opening-day loss to Gateshead, which contentiously went on despite Thunder's match doctor not being in attendance.