JAMES MORLAND has left York City Knights just as their League One promotion challenge heads for its knockout climax - leaving the already depleted team "scratching around for options" again.

Injuries and the loss of loan stars to unexpected recalls - not to mention the off-field uncertainty - have already hit James Ford's squad during the Super 8s and the head coach has been left "very disappointed" by this departure making matters worse.

With old heads Mark Applegarth and Austin Buchanan now doubtful for the play-offs due to injuries in last Sunday's win over London Skolars, plus Brandon Westerman exiting Thursday night's defeat to Doncaster with his arm in a sling, Ford is looking at a similar scenario to 12 months ago when low numbers saw fringe players drafted in for the promotion semi-final - an agonising golden-point extra-time defeat to eventual play-off winners Swinton.

"James is no longer with us. He quit," said Ford, who had dropped the talented 21-year-old after the defeat to Barrow a month ago.

"He didn't play particularly well against Barrow. In my opinion he didn't show enough fight, especially in the circumstances we're in - and that's been reinforced by him not wanting to fight to get back in the team.

"I'm very disappointed."

Home-grown talent Morland, who had come through the ranks under Ford's tutelage, first left Huntington Stadium towards the end of 2014 after losing his place in Gary Thornton's line-up but returned 12 months later after a stint playing National League Two rugby union for Harrogate.

He follows Rich Wilkinson in quitting this year's promotion push, although the latter, who is soon to travel the world, has still been attending games as a spectator and may yet don his boots in the play-offs if injuries leave the team short.

"I put a lot of time into James through the under-18s and reserves, in some ways maybe more than I gave others," said Ford, the former academy boss.

"As a coach and a teacher at college, you appreciate that's never going to be reciprocated but you do ask for something back. But while you can help to develop them as players you can't put desire or fight into a person.

"I'm my opinion he's lacking that grit right now. He's quit York twice now."

Asked if he would have Morland back, Ford said: "I've not thought about it."

He added: "It leaves us scratching around for options, but I'm sure we'll find solutions.

"Tyler Craig has stepped up and he's showing a lot of promising glimpses of his ability and, if he continues to train hard, I'm sure he will improve further."

Craig has featured in the last four games, scoring a try and taking on goalkicking duties, notching 15 from 20.

Added Ford: "He deserves to be in the team."

The head coach will make a few changes for tomorrow's last Super 8s match at Keighley Cougars, on a day when the only main issues to be resolved are final standings in the play-offs and who gets who in the semi-finals.

The Knights' defeat to Doncaster on Thursday saw the teams swap places in fourth and fifth.

With Toulouse big odds on to win the first promotion place, chances are Barrow or Rochdale await in the semi-finals.

Ford stressed he had no preference between the two.

"They are both very good teams with excellent players and excellent coaching staff.

"They're all tough games in the Super 8s, as we're finding out.

"What we need to do is focus on Keighley. You don't want to think any further than that.

"Anyone in the Super 8s can beat anyone else. If we're thinking too far in front that's when complacency creeps in. We've maybe seen that already in one or two cases recently."

Adam Dent is added to the Knights' squad and will start on the wing if veteran Tommy Saxton is rested, while Pat Smith replaces the below-par Jonny Presley at half-back and Micky Learmonth returns up top.

Andy Smith is set to start in the threequarters after his stint at prop, with Ed Smith going back to second-row in place of Westerman.

Jack Anderson will replace Brad Hey on the bench.

It has been confirmed the game will be Paul March's last in charge of Keighley, failure to win promotion getting him the axe.

Knights: from Haynes, A Dent, Saxton, Craig, A Smith, B Dent, P Smith, Nicklas, Learmonth, Brining, Aldous, Tonks, E Smith, Emmett, Carter, Spiers, Waller, Anderson, Presley.

Keighley: R Hawkyard, Gabriel, Lawton, Barnes, White, Milner, Handforth, Rawlins, Feather, Cherryholme, D Hawkyard, Oakes, Lindsay, Ollett, Peltier, J Sheriffe, Martin, Brook, Lynam.