RELEGATION battlers York City Knights have been dealt a massive blow with the news playmaker supreme Chris Thorman’s season – and possibly his time at Huntington Stadium – could be over.

The 30-year-old thought he had dislocated a thumb in the first half of Sunday’s thrilling win at Dewsbury Rams and, after minor treatment on the pitch, played on until the end of the game – going on to kick a match-winning touchline conversion in stoppage time.

However, X-rays have shown that the former England captain fractured the thumb in three places and it was also left disjointed.

He had surgery yesterday – which Thorman himself has said went well – but, while he could be back playing within a month, the worst-case scenario is he misses ten weeks and thereby sits out the rest of the Co-operative Championship campaign.

The ex-Super League star’s two-year contract at York will also then be up and, while The Press understands both he and the club have indicated they would be keen to agree a new deal, formal talks have not yet begun.

In further blows ahead of tomorrow night’s visit of high-flying Batley (8pm), prop Ben Jones might be sidelined again due to a recurrence of his sternum injury, and winger/full-back James Haynes remains doubtful after his neck problem flared up again at Dewsbury.

Knights boss Dave Woods admitted Thorman’s absence was a huge blow but remained optimistic his on-field organiser – and assistant-coach – would return for the all-important run-in.

He also insisted there were players in the squad capable of filling the half-back’s boots, with Jonny Presley a natural half-back replacement, while reserves Paul Stamp and Scott Woods, as well as Mark Barlow, who have recently been on the fringes, offer other options for pivotal roles.

“All’s good with the surgery so we’ve just got to wait now,” said the Aussie of Thorman’s injury.

“It’s one of those things. It could be anything from three weeks to ten weeks. It just depends on the healing process. Knowing Chris, he’ll want to be back sooner rather than later. We’re hopeful it won’t be too long.”

Asked about the prospect of losing Thorman for each of the remaining seven matches, Woods added: “It could be the worst-case scenario but we’re not thinking about that. We’ll take it week by week.

We’ve got a few weeks where we don’t play.

“He’s been playing some real good footy; the last few weeks have been really good. He will be missed but at the same time, as he said to me last night, even though it’s disappointing for him, it opens the door for someone else to have an opportunity.

“Anthony Thackeray’s arrival (eight games ago) has taken some of the pressure off and he’s been playing really well. Both he and Jonny Presley can now stand up and take control and do the things Chris was doing.”

As for next season, Woods said he was hopeful Thorman would stay, adding: “He wants to play for another couple of years. We’ll have to deal with that later on and I’m sure a decision will be made in the next few weeks.”

Woods will finalise tomorrow’s line-up later today in time to organise a reserves team for their match at Keighley tonight. Stamp, Barlow, Woods, props Jack Stearman and Brett Waller, and teenager Ed Smith could find themselves in either.


Law man in line for reserves call

YOUNGSTER Jack Law is set for a first run-out with York reserves tonight in the Reserve Champion-ship match at Keighley (8pm).

The New Earswick ARLC product impressed in the Knights Under-18s’ debut win at Keighley on Monday and has been named in a provisional 21-man squad for tonight, which was to be finalised today after Dave Woods decides on his first team for tomorrow night’s clash with Batley.

Brett Turner, a young hooker from Humberside who debuted for the reserves in last week’s loss to Oldham, is included, as is half-back Paul Stamp, although he might yet win a call-up for the first team in place of the injured Chris Thorman.

Other first-team hopefuls Brett Waller, Mark Barlow, Adam Howard and fit-again Lee Waterman are also named but at least one will drop out as only three players over 23 can be fielded in reserve league games.

Knights reserves: from Carmody, Mole, Winstanley, Dent, Waterman, Law, Woods, Stamp, Holmes, Turner, Howard, Hemmings, Brining, Gray, Stearman, Waller, Mitchell, Hydge, E Smith, Barlow, G Smith.