Heworth player-coach Brendan Carlyle is hoping to couple Christmas cheer with a big birthday boost next week.

The former York and Doncaster professional has been out of action since snapping an Achilles tendon during Heworth's first game of their Arriva Trains Conference division two campaign back in August.

However, he is due to return to the specialist on Christmas Eve - a day before his 35th birthday - and is hoping for the thumbs up to get back on the field for the game against Huddersfield Sharks on January 3.

"That's my aim," he told the Evening Press.

"It depends on what the specialist says but hopefully I'll be back for the beginning of January. It's my birthday on Christmas Day and I'm hoping for some decent news.

"I trained last week and the week before and it held up okay. I did not hold anything back and, apart from a few aches which are to be expected, it came through okay."

Carlyle rubbished talk of retirement immediately after suffering the injury, and he has reiterated his eagerness to return to action.

"I've lost half a season so I'm hoping to have another crack next season and then take it from there," he said.

"Obviously it depends on how the rest of this season goes with my injury but my aim is to keep playing."

Carlyle's side, hammered 76-4 in the Challenge Cup by West Hull last week, face another daunting Humberside challenge this Saturday at home to Arriva Trains Conference division two leaders East Hull (ko 2.30pm).

Carlyle, though, has ruled himself out of a premature comeback as the club bid to get out of their slump and out of the re-election zone.

"I would like to make myself available but I daren't until I see the specialist," he said.

"It was a big score against West Hull but they had four amateur internationals back in the side that day, which sums up our luck this season. This East Hull game is a bit of a task as well."

Carlyle, who has had to field several 'A'-teamers in recent weeks, is hoping to have Lee Clarke (knee) and Dan Briggs (thigh) back in action.

York Acorn will be hoping for another upturn in their rollercoaster campaign as they visit Eastmoor Dragons (ko 2.30pm).

The Blue and Golds lost 22-14 at home to Normanton Knights last week to remain just six points off the re-election zone and coach Dave Kay was wanting to climb further away from second-bottom Heworth.

"This is a good game to win to keep us away from the bottom-of-the-table dogfight," said Kay, whose side is unlikely to be much-changed from last week.

"We did not perform too badly last week but we were caught cold early on. You could put that down to a lay-off or whatever having not played for a few weeks but we haven't been starting well in the last seven or eight games.

"We've spoken before about the need to start off a lot better and that will be the case again this week, while our away form has been erratic and we need to improve that as well."

Updated: 08:47 Thursday, December 18, 2003