"I LOVE this club and I want to part of this new era."

So said fans favourite Ryan Mallinder as he pledged to get back to full fitness and help York City Knights rise up the League One rankings.

Mallinder's career was in the balance after he suffered an horrific leg break in the League One win at Newcastle last May. New work commitments outside of rugby, allied to becoming a dad, also left him contemplating hanging up his boots.

However, having returned to training without even discussing contract terms with the club, he now says he is ready to commit fully and will be going all guns blazing once his last leg operation is out of the way.

“I want to come back and help them get in the Super 8s," said the 28-year-old forward.

“There are selfish reasons – I want to get back to how I was before I broke my leg. I miss playing rugby league and I love this club.

“But I also feel I owe the club – the coaching staff, the supporters – and I would like to come back this year and help them move onwards and upwards.

“York gave me an opportunity, I’ve been here a long time and I like to think I have a good relationship with the fans.

“James Ford (head coach) is also one of my best mates outside of rugby.

“It’s just about loyalty to the club."

Mallinder, who has watched a number of matches this year from the stands, says the change in atmosphere around the club since the tumultuous end to last season is palpable.

“These are exciting times at this club," he reasoned, the takeover in December having effectively saved the Knights.

“It was very disappointing what happened last year and a lot of players left. But the turnaround from where that was going to where the club is going now is massive. I want to be a part of this new era.

“I’ve played a long time at York and a lot of that time it’s been tough with how it’s been run and the stuff behind the scenes. Now there’s a lot of positive energy around and I want to be involved in that.”

Mallinder is awaiting surgery to remove screws from his leg, which he hopes will take place by the end of May, after which he can join full training. He then wants to get match-fit within a month to be in contention for selection by the end of June.

“I had a lot of work on and didn’t think I could commit due to that and my family commitments, and I didn’t want to if I couldn’t give 100 per cent to the rugby," he explained.

“But I’m getting to the stage where I can start properly. Those work commitments are easing which means I can spend time with my family, and means I’m ready to fully commit to training.

“I'd just said to James (in the off-season) to build a new team and, if I can commit and get fit, I will try to win a spot back in the squad and in the team.

“That’s what I’m here trying to do now."

Mallinder first joined the Knights in 2013 after being plucked out of the amateur game, and he has helped the team reach the League One play-offs in the last three seasons.

He reckons making the Super 8s this year – never mind the top five – would be a great achievement after the club so nearly went under and suffered a mass player exodus less than five months ago.

“I think we’ve started a bit slowly maybe but that’s what you’d expect with a new team," he said of the season so far.

“But within the space of even a month you can see the progression, the mental progression, and they’re playing more like a team James Ford builds, like the teams in the past couple of years.

“I think they’re only going to get better and will be contending the Super 8s at the end of the season.

“If they make the play-offs it would be an outstanding achievement.

"Even top eight would be a big achievement considering what happened last year and the fact there’s been a full rebuild in a short space of time. The league is a lot harder this year as well."