YORK City Knights have signed former Hull FC wonderkid Callum Lancaster on trial terms with a view to agreeing a permanent deal.

The 20-year-old former England Academy flier, who scored two hat-tricks in his first four Super League appearances aged only 17, was released by the Airlie Birds last month and has since been weighing up his options in his search for regular rugby.

Championship big guns Hull KR had been tipped as the rapid winger's likely next destination. However, he has agreed to try to kickstart his career with ambitious League One outfit York instead, and he could go straight into the squad for Sunday's trip to Gloucestershire All Golds.

Knights boss James Ford said: “I’m pleased to bring a player with Callum's potential to the club, and it's another indication of our ambition.

"Callum has incredible pace and if he's willing to work hard at a few areas of his game I'm sure we'll see him fulfil his potential.”

Lancaster, who shot through the ranks at the KCOM Stadium after only taking up the game aged 14, scored nine tries in seven matches at Super League level, including back-to-back trebles against Widnes Vikings and Warrington Wolves after blasting onto the scene in 2014.

He also bagged 19 tries for Hull’s reserves in 2016, but, after limited opportunities in the under-23s this season and dwindling first-team prospects, the club, having recruited a wealth of talent in the back line, agreed to release him.

Ford said: "He broke into Hull's first team a few years ago and his try record is very good.

"He is one of the quickest players in rugby league, let alone League One.

"There are some areas of his game he needs to work on but he's got a significant amount of potential and pace and he adds to the strike and threat we've got.

"Bringing him here shows the club is committed to continuing to improve this year and beyond."

Lancaster's three-year deal at Hull, penned in 2014, had been set to run until the end of this season but his last senior appearance for the Black and Whites came in the win over Warrington on Easter Monday last year, with his one other first-grade outing since then coming on dual-reg at Doncaster, still over a year ago.

A Hull club statement on his release from the KCOM last month said: "Hull FC can confirm that Callum Lancaster has left the club to pursue opportunities elsewhere. The winger has only featured twice in the first team in the last two years, having broken on to the scene in 2014.

"With opportunities limited to just a handful of appearances in the club's reserve side, Lancaster has agreed a release from his contract with the Black and Whites. The club would like to wish him well in his future endeavours."