YORK City Knights speedster Alex Godfrey is a doubt for the opening game of the season against former club Hull Kingston Rovers following a city centre incident in which he broke a thumb.

The 24-year-old was arrested following the incident which occurred when he was out celebrating his birthday last week, though he is yet to be charged. He had not signed for the Knights at the time of the incident.

The double-blow has hit Godfrey's and the Knights' preparations ahead of the club's first-ever season in National League division two.

"I would like to play against Hull KR but I don't know if I will," he told the Evening Press.

Godfrey was kept in overnight at hospital after having surgery on his thumb. The pot will be taken off tomorrow, when he will have stitches removed and a new pot put on. That plaster cast will be on for another three weeks, and removed just a fortnight before the Knights versus Rovers clash.

Godfrey added: "I have been to training and can do fitness work but I don't get involved in impact or ball work. However, I can watch and learn moves for the time being, and running or sprinting is not a problem."

Godfrey, who signed for the Knights on his birthday, said the opportunity to return to college as part of the deal which brought him back to Huntington Stadium was paramount in his decision to leave Hull KR.

He also said he reckoned the Knights would be concentrating more on the league campaign rather than the Buddies National League Cup, which kicks off the season on January 19 and sees group games run until April 13. York are in a tough East Division pool, along with division one sides Rovers, Doncaster, Featherstone and division two side Sheffield, while their 'cross-division' group matches will be against another division one outfit, Dewsbury. York's league fixtures start on April 18 with a home clash against Gateshead.

"Our main aim is the league rather than the cup," Godfrey added. "I'm keeping my fingers crossed that we will get a good side ready in time."

Knights chief executive Steve Ferres said the club would await the outcome of any police action before deciding what, if any, action the club should take against Godfrey.

North Yorkshire Police said a man had been arrested in Walmgate in the early hours last week in connection with allegations of wounding. The man was released without charge on police bail to return to York police station on Friday next week.

Updated: 12:27 Thursday, December 12, 2002