NEW injuries in the York City Knights front row has left boss Gary Thornton contemplating loan recruits - with Jay Leary possibly set to follow Brad Brennan in making a temporary switch from Batley Bulldogs.

Any loan move could depend on the chances of bringing a forward in on dual-reg from Castleford, but that doesn’t look likely at present due to injuries in the Tigers’ own ranks.

It could come down to how long Austin Bell and Iain Morrison are expected to be sidelined. Bell has an ankle injury that could rule him out for another few weeks, while big-hitting Morrison, who has been in and out of the team all year due to illness and injury, is a big doubt again for tomorrow’s trip to Hemel due a slight bicep tear.

With Jake Joynt off the scene due to work commitments, Nathan Freer still unable to train after concussion, and Jack Pickles’ recurring adductor problem - albeit while making himself available tomorrow - the Knights are down to their last few fit props, including Brennan, who is on a week-by-week loan from Batley.

Thornton confirmed: “I’m in negotiations with a couple of clubs over loan signings. We’ll have to see. We’d have to make sure any loan signing has a realistic chance of playing as the last thing you want to do is bring someone in and not pick them.”

Former Leeds academy starlet Leary, who played 12 times for Batley in 2013 but has only been involved four times this term, is thought to be one of the players in the running for a loan switch.

Thornton added: “If Iain and Austin are not long-term, we might not do it, but if they could be out for a few weeks, we’ll have to look at it.”

Clubs can play up to five borrowed players - either on loan or on dual-reg - in any one game. York already have three regularly in the line-up - Brennan, Ben Reynolds and James Saltonstall.