YORK Knights are set for a timely player boost in their push for the Betfred Championship play-offs, with boss Mark Applegarth stating “reinforcements are around the corner.”

The Knights have struggled with injury throughout the campaign, with captain Liam Harris and full-back Will Dagger notable absentees to the spine of their squad.

But there appears to be good news on the horizon, for players thought to miss the rest of the season are progressing ahead of schedule.

Harris, Jesse Dee and Sam Cook all participated in sprints following the final hooter at Whitehaven last weekend, whilst outside back Tom Lineham returned to the Knights’ preliminary squad ahead of their trip to Cumbria after a pectoral injury suffered during May’s 40-18 victory against Halifax Panthers thought to keep him sidelined for the remainder of the campaign. 

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Applegarth explained: “We’ve got Liam Harris, Ukuma Ta’ai and Sam Cook who’ve just stepped up their rehab, Jesse Dee has just joined full training again so he should be a couple of weeks away.

“They’re good leaders, all influential leaders in the team as well.

“You’re probably looking at Jesse being a couple of weeks and we’re hoping Cooky and Liam will be about three weeks.

“Obviously you’ve seen them doing a bit of straight line stuff, but they’ve still got to do all the change of direction and doing it under fatigue etc.

“They’re at the early stages of their end-stage rehab, if that makes any sense.

“It’s not a bad trio to be getting back, but you’ve also got to have a bit of luck at not picking up too many other blows as well.

“There are a few reinforcements around the corner, but we should be pretty much as you were come Sunday, all being well.”

Applegarth is relishing the possibility of a positive selection headache, though warned with his side’s current four-match unbeaten streak, the quartet cannot expect to just walk back into his 17.

“It’s been really pleasing how other members of the squad have stepped up,” admitted the head coach. “But it’ll be good to get that competition for places back and that composure that sometimes those senior heads bring.

“They’re under no illusions too that they’ll have to train hard and fight for their places in the team. As long as the 17 every week do the business, it’s their shirts to lose. I’ve said all along that we’ll reward on performance. 

“It’s the sort of headaches that you want as a coach, who to select, instead of can we get a 17 out.” 

Will Dagger has 'Jesus-like healing powers', but a calf injury could rule him out for the rest of 2024.Will Dagger has 'Jesus-like healing powers', but a calf injury could rule him out for the rest of 2024.

Dagger, who had made his return from a hamstring injury in Toulouse last month, has been ruled out of the Knights’ last two matches with a calf injury sustained whilst jogging.

But whilst Applegarth admits that it is “touch and go” whether the full-back will feature again in 2024, he hopes that his “Jesus-style healing powers” will speed up his recovery.

“It’s going to be touch and go whether we get him back for any more of the year,” he admitted.

“But we’ll see how he responds to the rehab. I’d been told that his hamstring injury would keep him out for the rest of the year and he smashed his rehab there. He must have some sort of Jesus-style healing power! 

“We’ll hope that he has the same on his calf as well.”

The Knights though have no new injuries as a result of their physical battle in Whitehaven, with nothing more serious than “a few bumps and bruises.”

“It was a really tough, physical game and the scoreline probably doesn’t reflect how tough we had to play,” the head coach reflected.

“We should be alright, touch wood. We’ve still got some training sessions before Sunday’s game, but we seem to be pretty much as we were.

“All being well, we’ll stay like that.”