PROMOTION-CHASING York City Knights have bolstered their options in a "thin" back line by snapping up Perry Whiteley from cash-strapped Keighley Cougars.

The announcement comes five days after transfer deadline day. However, due to the glut of transfers and paperwork submitted in the hours before close of business, the Rugby Football League have only today confirmed the 25-year-old centre was successfully registered in time.

He has joined York on a deal until the end of the season, with boss James Ford believing he can bring additional pace and power to the team's promotion push in Betfred League One - as evidenced by his 90-metre consolation try against the Knights at Cougar Park in June.

"He's a big, strong, athletic young man, who has shown all season whenever I have previewed games that he's a handful," said Ford.

"He also scored that full-length (interception) try against us at their place.

"There are some areas in his game that he needs to work on and he's aware of that but he's really keen to come to York to develop his game and add to our squad, and I was keen to get him."

Ford had been seeking reinforcements in the back line for some time, with only two centres on the books in Brad Hey and loanee Jake Butler-Fleming - not including long-term injury absentee Adam Swift - and a lack of cover on the wings.

Whiteley could therefore go straight into the team that takes on North Wales Crusaders at Bootham Crescent on Sunday, especially with Butler-Fleming looking likely to stay in the treatment room.

That said, stand-in centre Joe Batchelor bagged four tries in last week's romp against Coventry Bears while Hey has been a model of consistency on the other edge.

Ford said: "We've only currently got two other centres and this gives us some competition in a key area where I thought we were a bit thin.

"I'm looking forward to working with him and helping him to fulfil his potential."

Whiteley would have been unavailable anyway for the Coventry match as the Thursday deadline for that weekend had elapsed, but he is in contention for this Sunday.

Ford added: "It (whether he will be selected) is down to him.

"There's a certain type of person I look for, which is someone who's committed to hard work and being the best they can be to help the club move on.

"Perry has certainly got potential to be a good player for York City Knights and he's now got the chance to show me he's the right kind of person to have at our club.

"We will see how he trains, but I've not brought him here just to have him in training. He wants to compete to play and help us finish as high as we can."

The Knights had been linked to the other Keighley centre, Adam 'The White Bull' Ryder, prior to his move to Championship side Dewsbury a month ago. But Ford intimated it was not a case of switching attentions to Whiteley after missing out on Ryder.

He said: "Perry has been a player on our radar for a while.

"We're aware of what his strengths are and also of where he needs to improve, and I'm confident he's coming to the right place.

"If he shows enough desire to be the best he can be, I'm really confident we've got ourselves a quality player."

Dewsbury-born Whiteley started his career in the youth ranks at Huddersfield Giants, before moving to Australia where he spent two seasons with Young RL in Country Rugby League.

He returned to England in 2015, signing for Workington Town and scoring 14 tries in 39 appearances for the then Championship club before moving to Sheffield for the 2017 season.

He scored one try in 17 appearances for the Eagles as they finished as runners-up in the Championship Shield.

Ford added: "I’d like to thank York's supporters, sponsors and the board for backing me once again.

"Perry has the potential to be a quality player for the Knights if his attitude towards hard work and attention to detail is where it needs to be. I’m looking forward to facilitating his development."