YORK City Knights will be without Danny Nicklas tonight after he was called up into parent club Hull’s squad this weekend.

Nicklas had been named in the Knights’ line-up for the Championship visit of Dewsbury Rams (8pm) but player-coach Chris Thorman will now have to find another half-back partner. Brett Turner is the likely candidate, with teenager Kris Brining possibly coming into Turner’s stead as replacement hooker.

Hull boss Peter Gentle called up Nicklas, along with England Knights prop Liam Watts, the recent recruit from arch-rivals Hull KR, and Reece Lyne into a 19-man squad for Sunday’s home Super League match against Huddersfield Giants.

Nicklas, Watts and Lyne effectively replace Liam Kent, the injured Danny Houghton and the departed Eamon O’Carroll, who left the club by mutual consent on Wednesday.

Half-back issues have dogged the Knights all year and this late change brings Thorman more such headaches.

Meanwhile, the Press understands new forward Dario Esposito is likely to be given his debut tonight. The Kiwi flew in from Australia on Wednesday morning and trained with his new team-mates last night.