JAMES FORD reckons his new forward pack has the fight and ability to "travel some distance" next year after York City Knights announced the rest of their provisional 2017 squad.

With the backs and pivots already revealed, the club has now named the men who will join Press Player of the Year Ed Smith, marquee signing Tim Spears and fellow recruit Bobby Tyson-Wilson in the team's engine room heading into the new campaign.

Alongside Adam Robinson, recruited from Championship big guns Halifax, incomers include Coventry Bears duo Liam Thompson and Joe Batchelor, Wakefield academy starlet Ronan Dixon and Lock Lane ARLC captain Chris Siddons. Micky Learmonth has also agreed new terms to stay.

Aside Spears, Robinson and Smith, the pack lacks proven experience, having lost captain Jack Aldous, vice-captain Mike Emmett, Mark Applegarth, Brett Waller, Josh Tonks, Matty Dale and Russ Spiers from last season's ranks.

But Ford has seen enough to instil confidence. He said: "What's more pressing for me is the attitude of the boys we're bringing in.

"Their attitudes are fantastic and they're working hard. We know we've got some distance to travel but, with the approach these boys have got, we can do that. I'm delighted with how quickly they're picking things up.

"You're always going to miss a player like Mike Emmett or Jack Aldous but in this industry people move on.

"I've got a new group of players who I'm excited about working with. I see a lot of improvement in them and I would think we'll travel some distance this year."

Former England Universities second-row Thompson, who hails from Leeds, has played 38 times for Coventry since the East Midlands expansion club joined the League One ranks.

Said Ford: "He was late to the game but he's big, athletic, strong, quick and runs the ball really hard, and he's got a bit of an offload game.

"There are one or two things to coach into him but he appears really coachable."

Wakefield-born Batchelor, brother of Trinity back-rower James, likewise progressed through their youth system before spending a year in Australia and then joining Coventry last season, scoring four tries in 11 appearances.

Ford said: "I taught Joe (at Wakefield College) and he's got an outstanding attitude. He's come to a new environment and won a lot of conditioning drills and tests. He's got enough skill to play in the centres but is big enough to play back-row.

"I'm pleased we got the chance to bring him here."

Dixon, an aggressive 6ft 3in prop, is another of those players to come out of the under-19s arena in Super League without bagging a first-team contract.

Said Ford: "Ronan was highly regarded at Wakefield, especially when (former boss) Brian Smith was there. He got on the fringes of the first team.

"Nineteen is really young for a middle but he will grow through the year and hopefully establish himself as a regular. He's working hard on his game and I'm sure he'll have a good season."

Siddons, 24, a star of the amateur game, was England Lions' Player of the Tour on the recent trip to Fiji.

Ford said: "He's got a lot of grit and desire and is prepared to play big minutes. He's a competitor but is also good with the ball. He'll give us variation in the middle.

"It's a step up from the National Conference League to York but he's training superbly well and looks comfortable in that middle unit. He'll be a good player for us."

Former England youth international prop Learmonth, 21, first joined York on loan from Huddersfield in April 2015, and ended up staying.

In and out of the team, he made ten appearances that year, before suffering a horror pectoral injury in pre-season training 12 months ago. He returned from rehab to make four appearances at the back end of last season.

Said Ford: "We didn't see the best of him because of injury. When we brought him back, he was not as fit as he will be this year. He's big, aggressive and has undoubted potential. He now needs to transform that potential into performances but we all believe in him."