YORK City Knights are to talk with former captain Lee Paterson tonight about a possible return to his home-town club.

The 28-year-old loose-forward has returned to England after a spell playing in the French Elite League and is open to offers from Championship and Championship One clubs.

The Knights are also to meet with York Acorn ARLC forward Davey Burns to discuss a potential switch to the semi-professional arena after a fine season with the Thanet Road outfit.

The Press revealed last October that Scotland international Paterson was a possible Knights target before he embarked on a second stint over the Channel with Carpentras, and that they were likely to leave the door open for a return to Huntington Stadium once the French season finished.

Knights general manager Ian Wilson today confirmed: “We’ve got a meeting with Lee with a view to maybe signing him for the rest of the season. He’s just come back from France. It would be good to have him here.”

Paterson, a product of New Earswick All Blacks, first signed for the Knights from Keighley ahead of the 2005 season, becoming an integral part of the National League Two title-winning team two years after helping the Cougars to promotion. He was named the Press’ July Player of the Month that year and made captain for 2006.

He generally played at loose-forward but won the NL1 Player of the Month award for June 2006 after switching to stand-off – a position in which the Knights want to strengthen.

He made 44 appearances, scoring four tries and seven goals, in his two seasons at Huntington Stadium, before joining Batley for 2007 then having two seasons with Championship big-guns Widnes in between spells with Carpentras.

Burns has been one of the standout players with Acorn this season and the Knights have approached the amateur club to open the door for a possible trial.

Wilson, meanwhile, said the Knights made no approach for Huddersfield’s highly-rated former Whitehaven half-back Greg McNally, who made a shock loan switch to York’s Championship One rivals Oldham ahead of their top-of-the-table clash with Hunslet this weekend. The Knights’ search for a half-back goes on, though Paterson could be an option at stand-off.

Wilson has also said the club have received plenty of questions ahead of tomorrow night’s question and answer session with Knights coaching staff and players, to be held at Bar 13 at Huntington Stadium. The event starts at 7pm and admission is free.