YORK City Knights have been handed a huge boost after X-rays showed James Haynes' injury is not as bad as first feared - leaving head coach James Ford relieved for the team and more so the player himself.

Haynes, whose career has been bedevilled by serious injuries, received lengthy on-field treatment early on in the Knights' League One win at Keighley Cougars on Sunday before being stretchered off with his left leg in a brace.

It was thought he had broken a bone in his lower leg or ankle but tests have shown there is no break and the 28-year-old centre suffered only soft tissue damage, meaning any spell on the sidelines will be considerably shorter. He may even be in contention for a seat on the plane for next weekend's match at leaders Toronto.

Ford, referring to Haynes' run of bad luck with injuries, said: "It's really good news this time.

"We all had our hearts in our mouths hoping it was not going to be another horrific thing for him to deal with.

"Thankfully he's had a bit of luck on this occasion."

Knights stalwart Haynes, man of the match in the 2010 Championship One Grand Final triumph, was forced to miss all of the 2012 season with a career-threatening sciatic nerve problem. After regaining fitness and form, he became team captain in 2015, only to then require a knee reconstruction which kept him out for another 12 months.

Asked how long he might be ruled out this time, Ford said: "He's a tough kid. We're going to do right by him. We'll see how he is at training this week."

One player who is almost certain to miss the Toronto trip is Tim Spears, who passed a late fitness test at Keighley but still played through injury, giving a man-of-the-match performance too.

He will join fellow veteran Andy Ellis, who has missed the last three games with a calf strain, in being given extra time to fully recover before the Super 8s, Sunday's crucial win - the Knights' first at Cougar Park since 2008 - having shortened the odds of York finishing in the top eight.

The club are set to recall Liam Thompson from his loan at Coventry and he will be in contention for Canada.