YORK City Knights boss James Ford has rung the changes ahead of tonight's visit of Gloucestershire All Golds – the most notable inclusion being the long-awaited return from injury of skipper James Haynes.

Ford, having kept similar line-ups for the last few games, makes a quartet of alterations to the side beaten 34-12 at Oldham, a result which ended the Knights' four-match winning sequence and saw them slip to fifth in Kingstone Press League One.

Two players are effectively dropped – namely Kriss Brining and Liam Cunningham – with Ford demanding more from the highly-regarded duo than what they served up at Whitebank.

Also out are Greg Minikin, due to his hamstring strain, and Nev Morrison, who is omitted for family reasons after a bereavement.

Tyler Craig, Micky Learmonth and Harry Carter return alongside Haynes, who will retake his full-back berth with Ben Dent reverting to the wing.

Ford said of his team captain: "James' influence on the group is enormous. His leadership skills are fantastic and his game management is very good.

"He's also very safe and solid and he's got really good skills coming out the back of things. It's obviously a real positive for us."

Haynes missed all of 2012 due to a sciatic nerve problem and wrote off 2013 before returning to fitness and form in 2014.

Back problems resurfaced after the win at Oxford in April and he has spent the last 12 matches on the sidelines, with Ford fearing not too long ago his season might be over.

However, after he underwent a minor procedure following advice from a specialist, 26-year-old Haynes has come through rigorous training and earned his recall.

Ford said: "I'm really looking forward to seeing him play and seeing where he's at."

Brining, 21, notched nine tries in seven outings before breaking a thumb in April and he bagged a hat-trick on his return against Hemel three weeks ago. But he finds himself back on the sidelines after a below-par show at Oldham.

Ford said: "Kriss is one of the senior members of the group now, even though he's still young, and every time he plays he needs to play to the standards we expect."

Referring to last year's first-choice hooker, Ford added: "He is no longer in Jack Lee's shadow and he's arguably our most experience hooker. He needs to play like that.

"When he does, he's arguably our best player – he's a great kid and an outstanding athlete. But we've also got Casey Canterbury and Harry Carter, who are two good young hookers who also need the opportunity to play, develop and learn.

"They will all get game-time in the next two months which will clear my mind on who's in front and who will play in the play-offs, assuming we get there."

On Cunningham, Ford said: "He's been really good for us this season; one of our best signings, playing really well in the back row and centres.

"I see him as a leader and every time he goes on the field he needs to be at that standard.

"As a coach, you have to make sure they're at those standards and, if missing a game or two is going to help them kick on to the next level, then it's my job to consider such interventions.

"I'm looking for a response and when they do play again, they will know what I'm looking for and I'm confident they will give it to me and the team."

The Knights won 46-6 at Gloucestershire in May but Ford has warned that his team, on the back of fixtures against play-off rivals Swinton and Oldham, cannot expect a relatively easy ride at Elmpark Way tonight (6pm) against an expansion side in the bottom half of the table.

He said: "We're under no illusions it will be a tough contest. Gloucestershire have pushed Oldham twice all the way and lost by less than a try (33-30) at Whitebank – fairing much better than we did last week.

"We also lost at Gloucestershire last year, so we know it's a team we can't underestimate."

Meanwhile, the Knights have extended Jack Blagbrough's loan from Sheffield until the end of the season, although the Eagles have a 48-hour release clause to call him back.

Knights (probable): Haynes, B Dent, Channing, Craig, Clare, Howden, Presley, Applegarth, P Smith, Aldous, E Smith, Tonks, Learmonth. Subs: Carter, Mallinder, Blagbrough, Nicholson. Stand-by: Pickles, Brining.