Concussion rules AJ Towse out of Knights' trip to Wakefield Trinity

The Heworth product had initially shown no ill effects from last weekend’s 12-6 win at fellow play-off hopefuls Widnes Vikings but began to suffer symptoms through the week and will now progress through the sport’s return-to-play protocols.

He though is the only casualty of an attritional affair the DCBL Stadium, other than the expected “bumps and bruises.”

Speaking to The Press, boss Mark Applegarth confirmed: “We got a concussion, a delayed concussion on AJ Towse, so he’ll be out. He’s got to go through his concussion protocols.

“But hopefully, touch wood, apart from that we’ve just got a few bumps and bruises after a physical game, so we’ll get through training this week and hopefully by Friday be able to name a 17-man squad.”

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Towse is the only change to the Knights’ preliminary squad, with forward Jordan Thompson returning from a two-match suspension to take his place.

Questions had been asked over whether young centre Joe Law could feature against his parent club, but a clause in his loan has allowed him to do so.

“When we signed Joe they said he was free to play,” Applegarth explained.

“If you look at it from Wakefield’s point of view, it’s more development for him isn’t it?

“He’s been playing well has Joe. There’s a few areas of his game that we’re working on, but he’s settled in the squad well and it’ll be a good opportunity for him to play against his mates on Sunday won’t it.”

Joe Law is available to feature against his parent club. (Image: Craig Hawkhead Photography)The Knights head coach was also able to provide an update on full-back Will Dagger, who, after recovering from a hamstring injury ahead of schedule, has not featured since last month’s victory in Toulouse with a calf issue.

Joe Brown has proved to be an able deputy in Dagger’s place, including a Man of the Match performance at Widnes, in what has proved to be a problematic position for the Knights over the last few years.

But whilst Applegarth expects the full-back to play no further part across the regular season, he is hopeful he will be able to feature in the play-offs, should York hold onto their spot in the top six.

He continued: “He’s got a bit of a tear there so hopefully he’ll only be out for a couple of weeks, but we’ll see how he responds to his rehab.

“I think it’s his Soleus that he’s done, so it’s a little bit trickier than if you just do your calf muscle.

“If things progress how we want, I don’t think that he’ll be back for any of the regular season, but if we do manage to get into the play-offs, he might be a handy addition to be back then.”