HULL FC flier Nick Rawsthorne is to extend his loan spell at York City Knights - and he might not be the only new top-flight speedster to pen an agreement at the ambitious League One club this week.

Rawsthorne, 21, who has scored twice in two outings since initially arriving on a month's loan at the end of March, is to remain at Bootham Crescent on a week-by-week basis, with head coach James Ford "delighted" to keep him around.

And The Press understands the Knights have been in talks with another Super League outside-back with a view this time to sealing a permanent deal.

If the paperwork is completed in time, the as yet unnamed player could join Rawsthorne in being in contention to play in Sunday's return to League One action away to Gloucestershire All Golds.

Ex-Halifax young gun Rawsthorne made a try-scoring debut in the Knights' otherwise disappointing loss at minnows Oxford, and then bagged the decisive last try in the bounce-back victory over Doncaster.

He was unavailable for the Challenge Cup defeat to Barrow last time out as parent club Hull did not want him cup-tied.

Ford said of the former England rugby union youth international: "I'm obviously really pleased to extend Nick's loan.

"I thought he showed the qualities he's got against Doncaster with a couple of involvements that helped to turn the game our way.

"His pace and ability to beat a man gives us some strike on the edges and I'm delighted we'll be able to continue facilitating his development."

Should another new signing arrive this week, it will leave Ford will plenty of options on the flanks, alongside veteran Tommy Saxton, Dee Foggin-Johnston, Tommy Brierley, Ben Dent and Nev Morrison.

However, Rawsthorne and Morrison are probably seen more as centres, while Dent is set to be sidelined by the elbow injury he suffered in the controversial cup loss to Barrow.

In much better injury news, meanwhile, star full-back Ash Robson and second-rowers Joe Batchelor and Liam Thompson could well be fit for this weekend's banana skin trip to Gloucestershire - an expansion side who have already shocked Keighley and Workington this season while also reaching the League One Cup semi-finals for the first time, where they lost to York's first-round conquerors North Wales Crusaders on Sunday.

Robson missed the Barrow tie after a recurrence of his thigh strain, while Batchelor has sat out the last three games with a sprained ankle and fellow former Coventry packman Thompson has been sidelined since the beginning of March with a groin strain.

Ford is also hopeful that having last weekend off will have helped young prop Ronan Dixon to shake off several niggling injuries he has recently been playing through.

Big prop Adam Robinson is also an outside bet to pass fit after his rib injury.

On Dixon, Ford enthused: "He has shown a real high level of grit and toughness not only to play but to play at a good standard."