Fans may have to wait to see top two Knights signings in action (From York Press)

Fans may have to wait to see top two Knights signings in action

12:00pm Saturday 14th January 2012 in Knights RL

YORK City Knights fans might have to wait a little bit longer to see either of their two marquee signings of the winter in action as player-boss Chris Thorman weighs up whether to throw them into his side for tomorrow’s friendly against Leeds.

Former Super League star Jordan Tansey has had his first week of training at his new club and, according to Thorman, fitted in “seamlessly”, but with no pre-season programme behind him – he was without a club since the end of last term – he may be given another seven days before being thrown into match action.

Ex-Hull, Wakefield and one-time Great Britain prop Paul King, meanwhile, has had a niggling hamstring problem so will not be risked unless he proves his full fitness.

King had been lined up to feature in last weekend’s opening friendly against Keighley until the injury cropped up.

Thorman will decide his line-up at today’s training session but will almost certainly play many of the senior players who sat out last week’s 28-16 loss.

This means the likes of prop Adam Sullivan, who has returned to the club, centre James Ford and last year’s captain, Alex Benson, will take to the field, while fans are set to get their first view of winger Waine Pryce in a Knights shirt.

Half-back Thorman’s own participation against the Rhinos is now uncertain, though, as he may instead wait until next Saturday’s game with his former club, Hull, before putting on his playing boots.

Another new signing, one-time Super League man Tommy Haughey, will be left out due to family commitments.

As for Tansey and King, Thorman said: “Jordan trained really well. Tuesday was his first session but it was a pretty seamless transition into what we’ve been doing. Leeds are a former club so he’s in with a shout (of playing) but we’re not sure yet.

“Paul’s had a niggle in a hamstring so we’ll see. He’s had treatment over the course of last week and this week and he’s hoping it will okay but there’s no drama if it’s not. He’s never had hamstring problems before so we’re not concerned about it at this stage.”

He added: “Most of the people who didn’t play last week will feature this weekend, although there are a few who maybe won’t because of injury or because we’d prefer to play them in the next two.”

Rhinos Under-20s coach Chris Plume believes his young side will face a stern challenge at York.

He has included Jamel Chisholm, Daniel Smith, Liam Hood, Brad Singleton and Stevie Ward in his squad following Rhinos’ return from a training camp in Cyprus, while Jack Pring, on trial from South Wales Scorpions, is among the replacements.

Plume said: “This should be a really good test for our young squad. As always against York, it will be a very tough game, played in great spirit. It is the ideal arena for some of the young players to signal some intentions for the coming season.”

Leeds squad: Watson, Agoro, Keinhorst, Normington, Chisholm, Ward, Casey, Smith, Hood, Syron, Bravo, Stott, Singleton, Brown, Olds, Roche, Morgan, Pring, Smith, Nicholson.

• Turnstiles at Huntington Stadium will open at 1.30pm tomorrow.

Vice-presidents can gain access to the vice-presidents’ lounge from 12.30pm on production of their season ticket, either at the information point or through a ticket turnstile.

Meanwhile, supporters will have the opportunity to ask two questions to the Knights coaching staff after the game in Bar 13.

Questions must be submitted in writing to Emma in the bar by 5pm.