TALENTED half-back Danny Grimshaw is celebrating an award-winning return to the York City Knights ranks.

The 23-year-old is this season’s first winner of The Press player of the month award after a stunning start to the campaign.

Readers of The Press selected Grimshaw ahead of prop Adam Sullivan, player-coach Paul March and captain Paul Hughes.

Grimshaw caught the eye during the club’s four pre-season friendly victories, turning in performances that kept him in the side for the opening two Northern Rail Cup wins.

He was rested for last weekend’s pool match at Batley – coincidentally the Knights’ only defeat of the year – but is back in the running for a return against Longon Skolars at Huntington Stadium tomorrow.

After missing the majority of last season with a serious neck injury, Grimshaw is delighted to be back.

“It’s great to win the award – I’m really chuffed with it,” said Grimshaw, who will receive his player of the month accolade before the Skolars game.

“It was frustrating being out last season. I had an operation to have a disc removed from the top of my spine.

“I was waiting three months for the operation and that’s why I was out for so long.”

The youngster’s rapid return to top form has delighted him – and left player-coach Paul March with some tough selection decisions.

Grimshaw said: “I’m really pleased with the way it’s gone. I didn’t expect to go as well as I have.

“I thought it would take time to get some form back, but I’ve been straight back into it.

“It’s good that Paul has shown faith in me by playing me this season and getting me straight back in.

“He plays in the same position as me and he’s helped me a lot. Now everybody is talking about him having a problem at half-back because all three of us – Adam Mitchell, Paul and me – have played well.

“Adam played well at the end of last season and I was a bit worried about the competition, but it helps that we are all mates off the field.

“One of us has to drop out but we haven’t really done anything wrong. There is not only competition on a game day – there is a competitive feel to training through the week.”

The Knights are on the brink of qualification for the knockout stages of the Northern Rail Cup after victories over Workington and Whitehaven, with last weekend’s defeat at Batley the only blot on the season so far.

The club took 12 games to get off the mark in the 2008 season, but Grimshaw said: “This season is the total opposite.

“After the start we’ve had, I don’t see why we can’t reach the semi-finals of the Northern Rail Cup.

“We’ve turned over one of the best sides in Whitehaven. If we keep playing like we did against them, particularly in defence, not many teams will beat us.

“We didn’t really play badly at Batley last weekend, we were just a bit below-par. But we still could have won that game and that shows how much better we are as a squad.”

He added: “We are going into games with confidence. It’s a good club to be with at the moment.

“The whole place is buzzing and that’s how we want to keep it for the rest of the season.”

• The race to be player of the month for March starts with tomorrow’s game against London Skolars.

Readers will be able to vote for their choice at the end of the month by emailing peter.martini@ thepress.co.uk, with their selection, full name and daytime phone number.

Everyone who votes will get the chance to present the winning player with his award pitchside before a home game.

Go on – bring a friend for free

Season ticket holders and vice-presidents can ‘bring a friend for free’ to tomorrow’s crucial Northern Rail Cup clash with London Skolars at Huntington Stadium.

Ticket holders will use voucher two as normal and guests who decide to take advantage of this offer should use voucher ‘A’.

A Knights spokesman said: “We urge all season ticket holders and vice-presidents to bring a new supporter or someone who may not have attended a game for a while.

“The brand of rugby that player-coach Paul March and the players are currently serving up may encourage them to come back week after week, and help to recreate the atmosphere we had a few years ago.”