YORK City Knights will be without wingers Perry Whiteley and Will Sharp for tomorrow afternoon’s Coral Challenge Cup fourth round trip to London Broncos.

Whiteley underwent a scan on a foot injury last week, revealing disappointing news for the outside back who has yet to feature for York this year, in either pre-season or competitive matches.

The former Workington winger will be out for over a month as a result of the small fracture to a bone.

Sharp limped off midway through the second-half in the Knights’ 34-0 defeat to Leigh Centurions having suffered a hamstring injury.

The ex-London back won’t feature against his old club tomorrow, but may be available to face another former sides, Halifax, when Betfred Championship action resumes next weekend.

Speaking on Whiteley’s situation, head coach James Ford said: “The injury that was diagnosed is there but there’s also a small fracture to a bone in his foot.

“He’s going to be in an air boot for up to four weeks whilst that heals.

“So, Perry won’t feature for more than a month which is a blow because we expected Perry back in January.

“These things are set to test us so we can either cry about it or we can look at the positives.

“It gives other players the opportunity to show us what they’re all about.”

“Will has got a hamstring injury so he definitely won’t feature against London.

“We’re hopeful that we can get him back for Halifax.

“But, having said that, it’s a 27-game season and if there’s a chance that Sharpy will break down in that Halifax game, we’ll give him a little bit longer.

“I’ve done it myself as an outside back, coming back from having injuries.

“If you come back a little bit too early it’s inevitable that it’s going to go again.

“We’ll have to guard against that.

“I thought that Sharpy had a decent game (against Leigh) given that it was his first game at full-back for a long time.

“I think that he’s more comfortable on the wing and that we will be better for us on the wing, but he certainly had some decent involvements.”

Given the injuries to Whiteley and Sharp - who join Ronan Dixon on the treatment table - Ford may look to utilising the club’s dual registration agreement with Castleford Tigers in future weeks.

“We won’t use dual registration this weekend because it’s the Challenge Cup,” explained the coach.

“I wouldn’t want to cup tie a player who could later play in the semi-final or the final for Castleford, that would be an horrendous thing to do.

“I’ll be speaking to Daryl (Powell, Castleford coach) at the back end of this week or early next week about what their injury situation is like and if they’ve got anybody available for us for the Halifax game.

One positive for York is the return from suspension of half-back Connor Robinson.

“I thought that that was Connor’s best ever game for the club away to Leigh on Sunday,” joked Ford.

“It’s great to have him back and he’s looked fantastic in training.

“His leadership out there has been a big boost to us, as has his kicking game, his organisation and his ability to distribute the ball.

“It’s been a real boost for us in terms of our preparation. I’m looking forward to including him back in the side.”

York City Knights 21-man squad: Marsh, Keinhorst, Salter, Johnston, Robinson, Jubb, Teanby, Washbrook, Scott, Spears (C), Brining, Green, Clarkson, Porter, Baldwinson, Stock, Bass, Hey, Wallis, Towse, Harrison.