YORK City Knights have signed Nat Brown from Featherstone and he is set to go straight into the team that takes on his former club on Good Friday.

Brown, who turns 24 next week, is well known to Knights coach Gary Thornton, who first signed the then 17-year-old from amateurs Stanningley while in charge at Batley Bulldogs The utility back went on to join Rovers at the end of 2009, after shining in a spell in Wakefield’s Under-21s, where he was also briefly coached by Thornton.

He has struggled to break into the first team at Post Office Road, though, and joins York in search of regular Kingstone Press Championship action.

He could well make an immediate bow in the outside backs on Friday, with George Elliott struggling to overcome a hip problem.

Thornton said: “I know quite a bit about him. He gives us more competition for places. He can play wing, centre and full-back, and he comes into contention to play against his former club, which he will relish.

“It’s difficult to break into that Featherstone team but he needs to be playing regular first-team football at his age. Daryl Powell (Featherstone boss) has released him for the right reasons and this gives him an opportunity.

“He’s a good kid and a good trainer. He’s strong and will be a good asset for us.”