York City Knights sign centre Tuoyo Egodo on loan from Castleford Tigers

The 20-year-old centre or winger - who used to work in a bank in London before moving north last autumn - has arrived on loan from Cas, with the Knights optimistic they can cash in with much-needed extra strike on the edges, hopefully for the remainder of the year.

The former London Broncos junior had joined Championship side Oldham early this year on what was meant to be a season-long loan, but that spell was cut short last week, and the Knights quickly made a move.

He is likely to go straight into the team for Sunday's tough League One trip to Keighley.

Head coach James Ford said: "He brings added competition to the outside backs. He's more at home in the centres but can play on the wing so it gives options and cover in all four positions.

"As an individual, he brings a lot of strike. He's a powerful young man, he carries the ball aggressively and is hard to handle.

"Hopefully he can bring us a bit more punch to our edges and be a real potent weapon for us."

The Londoner initially progressed through the Broncos' youth system and came to Cas coach Daryl Powell’s attention last season while on loan at Hemel Stags.

He agreed a two-year full-time deal with the Tigers in October.

Egodo scored three tries in 10 loan outings for Oldham this term, also providing a memorable assist for the Roughyeds' dramatic late winner against Bradford Bulls.

However, he doesn't drive yet and began finding it hard getting over the Pennines. He had been travelling with fellow Cas loanee Kieran Gill, but when Gill suffered a season-ending knee injury, his lifts dried up.

Ford reckoned it was a case of Oldham's loss being York's gain. He arrives initially for a month but potentially for the season.

"He's held in high regard by a number of people in rugby league," he said. "He's somebody who potentially can be a really good player and he's on the way to being that.

"If we get him combining well and contributing to our style of play, hopefully he will bring some physicality on the edges and help take the team onto the next level."

The Knights had been seeking a new centre since losing Nick Rawsthorne a month ago - with The Press revealing on Saturday that a new signing was imminent.

Rawsthorne had bagged eight tries in five York appearances only for Hull FC to recall him from his loan, play him in Super League and then send him out on dual-reg to Doncaster. He has most recently joined Super League side Leigh on loan.

Ford, though, still spoke highly of his other centres.

"They've contributed to some really good team performances," he said, suggesting Egodo wouldn't just walk into the team.

"James Haynes has had jobs to do opposite the likes of Jason Tali (Doncaster) and Jesse Joe Parker (Whitehaven). He's had some really tough defensive assignments and has done them really well.

"Brad Hey has come in and played a bit of centre and a bit of back-row and has had real positive impacts on games.

"Nev Morrison is also a good player and has had some outstanding games for York.

"We've got good players there but we wanted to add to our options coming towards the Super 8s."

Asked if Egodo will go straight in against Keighley, Ford said: "We'll see how he goes in practice but he's got a very good chance as long as he trains to the levels we expect."