RYAN MALLINDER knows he needs to get back to his best quickly to have chance of playing a part in York City Knights’ Super 8s campaign – but for now he’s just delighted to “feel part of the team again”.

Mallinder, having been out for 14 months after suffering a career-threatening broken leg, made his return to action in Sunday’s hammering of Hemel Stags which sealed the Knights’ place in League One’s Super 8s.

He capped it all with a try, too, after which he was mobbed by his team-mates under the sticks at Bootham Crescent - helping to confirm his proper place back in the squad six weeks after returning to training.

“It’s just a special feeling,” he said of their reaction. “It was just really nice to feel back part of the team again. It gave me a real confidence boost.

“Hopefully if I get another opportunity I’ll be able kick on. I know I need to play better than that if I want to play in the 8s, but I can build on this and it will give me some confidence.”

It should have been a straightforward finish but Ed Smith’s pass forced Mallinder to stretch and juggle the ball a little before touching down.

“The pass wasn’t great – but there was no way I was dropping it,” he joked, referring to the traditional end-of-season forfeit of a naked lap of the training pitch for players who don’t get a try.

“I might not get another opportunity, but that gets me off the ‘nudey run’.

“I think Ed was probably testing my skill, to check if I’ve still got it.”

Mallinder, who turns 29 next week, returned to full training in May but has only been at 100 per cent for the past two weeks after having screws taken out of his leg – his last operation.

“I felt off the pace a bit but that’s to be expected I think after a while out,” he said of his two 20-minute stints.

“But I took a couple of knocks on my leg and that felt good – in that being out there getting some contact was good.

“That was the biggest thing - the leg felt fine and I now need some match fitness and to get some strength and build on that.

“There was some decent contacts. My timing was a bit off, and I need more match fitness – you can’t really get that until you play.

“I obviously don’t feel as fit as I did (when playing regularly) but the more game time I get the fitter I will be.”

Head coach Ford, meanwhile, was chuffed his old mate got back on the pitch – but still had a little quip about the 28-year-old’s touchdown.

“Ryan’s a big part of the club,” he said. “He’s a leader and he’s tough – he showed how tough he is by coming back for that injury.

“I’m delighted for him to come back and get that try too.

“He must have been practising with the wingers though during his rehab - I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a prop forward do a swan dive.”