YORK CITY KNIGHTS centre Peter Aspinall has been handed a two-match suspension after being sent off in the club’s Kingstone Press League One victory at Oxford.

The 21-year-old gave an early guilty plea to a Grade ‘C’ charge of running in and punching during the Knights’ 44-20 victory at Iffley Road.

Accepted by the RFL’s disciplinary panel, Aspinall will now miss the games against Coventry Bears at York RUFC’s Clifton Park this weekend, and the trip to Swinton Lions.

The former Sheffield Eagles and Huddersfield Giants player will be back in time for the Knights’ Challenge Cup sixth round clash at Super League champions St Helens next month.

Aspinall was dismissed in the 67th minute in Oxfordshire after striking Nathan Kitson, leaving the home player with a suspected broken cheekbone. Aspinall had run into a spat between skipper James Haynes and Oxford’s Adam Brook.

Kitson was later found to have suffered heavy bruising, but no fracture.

His absence will cause more concern for head coach James Ford, who is sweating on the availability of Colton Roche, Kriss Brining, Ryan Mallinder and Liam Cunningham for the visit of the Bears on Sunday.

St Helens, meanwhile, have announced their Challenge Cup game with the Knights will be staged at 8pm on Friday, May 15. Full ticket details are to follow.