YORK City Knights hooker Harry Carter has been ruled out for the season - the result of a controversial challenge in the last round of the Challenge Cup.

It was initially thought the 24-year-old trickster had sprained the medial collateral ligament in a knee, but, having gone for a second opinion, follow-up tests show he has torn the anterior cruciate ligament - a much worse injury.

The blow comes as the team build up for their fourth round tie against Swinton tomorrow, which has been switched to Featherstone's ground (3pm) due to waterlogging at Bootham Crescent.

Will Jubb will continue to interchange with Andy Ellis in the hooking role.

Head coach James Ford said of Carter: "He's done his ACL and will be out for the season.

"It's a huge blow for everyone, not least Harry himself. He's someone everyone at the club thinks a lot of.

"These things happen in sport. We're not the only team to lose a key player. He's a strong boy and he will come back from this. I'm sure he'll put the work in and come back an even better version of Harry Carter."

The tackle, in the 35th minute of the third-round win at amateurs Askam, had been put on report by the match officials.

However, after viewing video footage, the Rugby Football League's disciplinary panel said the Askam player involved, Sam Dowsett, had no charge to answer.

They stated: "Player makes contact on opponent at the back of the thigh to complete tackle on opponent. Player makes a considered and controlled approach. Possible accidental contact on opponent’s lower leg."

Said Ford of the tackle: "My initial feelings were of disappointment as it looked really reckless.

"As a result we have lost a really good player for a year, a player who's shown time and again he can change a game off the interchange bench, and who can lift the team defensively.

"I don't think they will have got a clear picture of it (from the video). It (the footage) wasn't the greatest quality and it was on the far side of the pitch. I would not want them to guess (regarding Dowsett's guilt) and ban the fella if they can't see it clearly.

"I didn't want them to guess when they banned Ash Robson (last year for alleged spitting which was not seen on camera) so I'm glad they haven't guessed here."

Carter, ironically, was otherwise one of few surviving members of the Knights squad that last met Swinton in 2015 - when the Lions won 18-17 with a golden-point drop goal in extra time of a dramatic League One play-off semi-final, on their way to promotion.

Only he and Brad Hey remain from Ford's class of 2015 - although neither of them featured in that semi-final.

Colton Roche did play that day in his last game for York before signing for Featherstone, but, despite now being back with the Minster city club on loan from Huddersfield, he is not included this weekend as the Giants don't want him cup tied.

Likewise there are no dual-reg Hull KR players in Ford's party tomorrow, although full-back Kieren Moss does continue to play on loan from the Robins having already featured for York in the third round.

When asked about that painful previous meeting with Swinton - in which the Lions levelled the scores with 12 seconds of normal time remaining - Ford quipped: "Don't remind me.

"We've not spoken about 'revenge'. Our playing group is 100 per cent different, and Swinton have had a fair turnover as well and a new coach. We're just looking at is as a challenge."