ADAM CUTHBERTSON is eager to get stuck back into the action ahead of potential York City Knights debut this weekend.

Cuthbertson was given the all-clear by a specialist on his shoulder injury and this week returned to contact training for the first time since joining the club.

And the off-season recruit could make his York bow when James Ford's side travel to London Broncos in the second round of the Betfred Challenge Cup on Sunday (2.30pm).

After a lengthy stint on the sidelines, the Australian is delighted to now be properly alongside his new team-mates.

"I tested it out on Tuesday night and it's really good," Cuthbertson said of his shoulder. "I had my first real contact sessions on Tuesday for the first time in a long time, so it was really good to get in the thick of it with the lads and get stuck in.

"It's been five months now since I've been able to train properly with the team, so it's been a long time coming. It was great to get the all-clear from the specialist and I'm looking forward to getting stuck in this week."

Cuthbertson admits he and the club have had to show caution around his return to the field given the nature of the injury.

He added: "It's been five months (out) and there's been a bit of uncertainty in the mix. I fractured my shoulder and the fracture was fine in the end. But there was quite a bit of bruising in and around the nerves so that's where the healing needed to be done.

"It's taken quite some time and five months isn't a normal time period to come back from an injury like this, it's usually more like three (months). But, with the nerves that were affected from the fracture, it took a little bit more time.

"It was something that they (York City Knights) were willing to do because the last thing we wanted was for me to come back too early and hurt something else.

"Fordy has been great and reassured me that there's no rush and it's about getting me back fit and sound to play rugby as it is a long year. It was important to come back in the right manner."

During a glittering six-year spell at Leeds Rhinos, Cuthbertson won five major trophies, including two Challenge Cups, in 2015 and 2020.

Such experiences at Wembley Stadium were incomparable, Cuthbertson says, and the chance to return to the national stadium, whether in the Challenge Cup or the 1895 Cup, is a major driving factor.

"Those are games that you want to play in as a professional athlete in any sport," he said of his past cup final experiences. "You play and train hard to get to those big moments at a place like Wembley.

"It really is something else and it's something that has driven me over the years and will continue to drive me during my time at York.

"To get that experience again for myself and the boys, that's definitely a goal of ours to get there, whether that's in the 1895 or the Challenge Cup itself, I'd love to get back there again and I'm sure that the boys share that same motivation.

"A few of the boys asked me on Tuesday, funnily enough, about the difference between 2015 and 2020, where there was a crowd and no crowd.

"The celebrations haven't changed in that, you're still with your mates and all the fellas that you work hard with throughout the season and then win a competition and a trophy like that.

"I guess it's about having those fans back which is really important, especially for the game going forward."