TRY-SCORING ace Darren Robinson is looking forward to blowing off the cobwebs and getting into the action with York City Knights.

The highly-rated former Rochdale Hornets hooker joined the club this week and goes straight into the squad for the trip to Featherstone Rovers tomorrow.

Indeed, his arrival could not have been timed better as the Knights' top-line number nine, Lee Jackson, looks set to miss the match along with two other first-team stars.

Second-row stalwart Mick Ramsden is out after suffering that facial injury last week - he is still waiting for swelling to go down to have an X-ray - and in another blow to the Knights, winger Alex Godfrey has a groin strain.

But Robinson is raring to go and could well go straight in at hooker, while the Knights' two other new recruits, Jonny Firth and Tommy Gallagher, are also likely to be involved.

Robinson told the Evening Press: "I'm really looking forward to it. I haven't played since June so I might be blowing a bit; I've been keeping fit on my own but it's not the same as match fitness. I've been putting in extra training sessions to catch up and I can't wait to play."

As reported by the Press, Robinson had a bust-up with Rochdale which forced him to leave Spotland, but he is keen to put that behind him and help his new club to success.

"Steve Ferres (Knights chief executive) gave me a chance to come to York and I took it.

"I've had a couple of training sessions under my belt and it's gone well. It looks like things are gelling together even after two sessions.

"I've got on well with the players. I knew Jermaine Coleman after playing with him at amateur level and I know the likes of Alex Godfrey, Mark Cain and some others from playing against them. They've taken me in really well so I'm pretty happy."

He added: "The club has recruited well. They're all decent players and I think we should go well.

"The aim has to be promotion and on a personal level it is to do as well for York as I can."

Robinson, formerly a half-back, successfully moved to hooker while at Rochdale and, although he realises he is up against former Great Britain star Jackson for that role, is keen to prove his worth to the club.

"I know I've got a bit of competition to play at hooker but that can only be good for me," he reasoned. "To learn off a player of Lee Jackson's ability and to be coached by Paul Broadbent will be excellent for me."

Broadbent is yet to decide on his final line-up for tomorrow but has suggested that Robinson - along with stand-off cum loose-forward Firth, who jetted in from Australia last week, and Leeds loanee Gallagher, a Great Britain Academy prop whose debut has been delayed because of 'flu - will all be involved.

Although the loss of his three front-liners was a blow, Broadbent said it provided a "chance for other guys to prove their worth".

As for the new trio, he said: "They've gone well in training and shown up well. It will be good to see how they go in a game situation."

He added: "Featherstone are a good solid outfit, they go forward quite well and have a reasonable kicking game.

"They've got some useful players and on their day can cause serious trouble. We have to make sure we're up for it."

Updated: 10:10 Saturday, February 15, 2003