AILING York City Knights have major new fitness worries ahead of the visit of unbeaten Championship leaders Leigh on Sunday.

Former Super League back-rower Ryan Esders is struggling with both a wrist injury and dead leg and props Jack Stearman and Brett Waller have both been off work with illness.

Furthermore, goalkicking three-quarter Lee Waterman is seeking specialist advice about a troublesome ankle problem which forced him to sit out training this week.

Prop Nathan Freer will be fit to return after missing last Thursday’s loss at Batley, but the potential new absences in the pack – allied to the long-term injuries to forwards Ben Jones and Matt Barron – mean boss Dave Woods is toying with the idea of using utility player Steve Lewis in another makeshift front row.

Ex-York Acorn amateur Davey Burns is another option having been thrown in against Batley, but fellow reserves player Adam Howard, the former Peterlee amateur, is unlikely to be asked to make the step up against Ian Millward’s rampant Centurions, despite calls from the terraces.

Woods, whose side lie second-bottom, said: “For Adam, he’d be playing against lads who have been playing for ten years at a high standard – while he’s only been playing for six months.”

Howard – along with full-back Sam Lynch, who returns from injury – is to play for the reserves tonight away to Leigh (8pm), at Leigh East ARLC. This game has been brought forward from Saturday.

Knights reserves: Lynch, Mole, Proctor, Wilson, Carmody, Stamp, Woods, Howard, Brining, Hem-mings, Rice, Hyde, Barlow. Subs: from Mortimer, Mitchell, Gray, G Smith, Winstanley, D Barron.