FRUSTRATED second-row star Ross Divorty has been left "absolutely gutted" after having his spell back at hometown club York City Knights cruelly cut short.

Wales international Divorty, released by Halifax earlier in the year, has played in the last four League One matches since rejoining the Knights last month - with the team picking up maximum points to surge up to second in the standings.

However, he broke a thumb in Sunday's victory at Oxford and is likely to be sidelined until August - when he is due to leave for Australia. After the hand was X-rayed, his lower arm was put in pot and he is set to see a specialist for further analysis tomorrow.

"I think it happened when I came on for my second stint," said the 27-year-old. "I must have caught someone's elbow. It hurt but wasn't too bad. In the evening, though, it was like a balloon.

"I'll hopefully get a clearer picture after seeing the specialist but, in terms of playing this season, I think that's me done with.

"I'm absolutely gutted. I've been really enjoying it. We've won all four of those games and we're building and bringing in some really good players in readiness for a good end to the season.

"We're a very strong team and I'm gutted I won't be part of it.

"I spoke to James Ford (head coach) - I want to hang around the lads still. They're a great group. I'm good friends with a lot of them, and we've recently brought in Adam Robinson and Sam Smeaton (from Halifax), who I've been good friends with from my previous club. I don't want to leave all that."

Divorty was also left frustrated at, by his own admission, not finding his top form since his return.

The former New Earswick ARLC junior, son of Great Britain international Gary, has been a Championship regular with Featherstone and Fax since leaving hometown club York at the end of 2008, racking up more than 200 first-grade appearances - including a dozen for Wales, for whom he has played against England, New Zealand and Australia in the Four Nations.

But he missed pre-season at The Shay due to injury and played only two games in February before being forced to leave the club by mutual consent due to work commitments as a teacher at Osbaldwick Primary School, missing out on three months before signing back at York.

Added the former York St John University student: "I feel like I've been a bit disappointing in the four games and that I have a point to prove, to be as good as I can be. That's another frustrating part of it.

"I only got back training in January and played two matches before leaving Halifax, and I was wanting to really find my top form for York and get better and better."

Divorty has a one-way ticket to Australia later this summer with the intention of staying there. But he has not ruled out returning to the Knights if things don't work out down under.

He explained: "I'm looking at permanent residency but I've spoken to James and if I do come back I'd like to be able to come back to the Knights if the same sort of people are here - I'd love to."

Ford himself says Divorty's injury is a massive blow ahead of the Super 8s, even if the squad is currently blessed with a lot of back-row strength.

"We might have seen the last of him in a York shirt," said Ford, whose team face Gloucestershire, leaders Toulouse and fellow big-guns Keighley before the league splits into two.

"The competition for a spot in the back row was really hotting up with several good options in there. We'll be able to cover it as we've still got quality players, but losing Ross is a huge blow.

"He's a very good player and he was a significant part of our plans for the run-in."

The on-loan Robinson bagged two tries from the back row on debut at Oxford, while the in-form Josh Tonks is ready to return after being left at home on Sunday, as is Ed Smith, likewise one of the best second-rows in the league, who has recently switched to the threequarters. The arrival of centre Smeaton could free up Smith to move back.

Ryan Mallinder is out for the season - one of the reasons Divorty was brought in - but former Featherstone favourite Matty Dale is finding match fitness and Jordan Crowther has impressed in the pack back on loan from Wakefield, while Brad Hey is another option and veteran prop Mark Applegarth has plenty of second-row experience from his younger days.