BRENDAN O’HAGAN and Ben Jones-Bishop are set to make their returns for York City Knights this weekend after being given the all-clear from their hamstring injuries.

The pair missed out on last week’s Betfred Challenge Cup tie against Wigan Warriors due to their knocks but are set to feature when York host Sheffield Eagles on Sunday (7.30pm).

The news provides some comfort for Knights head coach James Ford, who was missing 12 players for the clash against Wigan.

O’Hagan is in line for a return to the halves alongside either Warrington Wolves loanee Riley Dean or Joe Keyes, who was brought in on a two-week loan from Hull Kingston Rovers earlier this week.

Jones-Bishop will take Perry Whiteley’s spot on the wing after the ex-Keighley man picked up some swelling around his knee.

“Ben Jones-Bishop is clear, he trained on Tuesday,” reported Ford.

“Brendan O’Hagan is the same. They both had red flags around hamstring tightness, so we didn’t risk them and that’s settled down now.

“Perry Whiteley has got some swelling around his knee and he’s looking at Swinton (next week) or the week after against Dewsbury.”

Danny Kirmond and Tim Spears have both been named in the Knights’ 21-man squad, with Ford stating that Kirmond had a “possibility” of featuring due his shoulder issue while Spears was “unlikely” to play amid a calf injury. The coach is confident that both will be in contention against Swinton Lions.

Centre Ryan Atkins is also included in the squad, after missing out against Wigan because of a knee complaint, and will be assessed in training before a final decision is made.

In the short-term, the Knights remain without Chris Clarkson (Achilles), Jason Bass (dead leg), Jordan Baldwinson (knee), Jack Teanby (thumb) and Kriss Brining (hamstring).

On those unavailable players, Ford commented: “It’s probably a week too early for Jason Bass, he’s going to be out with his dead leg.

“Jordan Baldwinson will probably come into team training next week. He’s done some straight line running and we’ll see how his knee reacts before we progress to that return.

“Jack Teanby’s hand is going to be in a pot for the next three to four weeks and then he’ll go into rehab. Jack is the longest term one apart from Morgan (Smith, ACL).

“With Kriss Brining, we’re hopeful we’re going to phase him into training next week, so there’s a chance he’ll play against Swinton and if not Swinton, then definitely Dewsbury.”

Given the mounting injury list witnessed at York over the past few weeks, Ford has moved quickly to bring in three new loan signings this week with Keyes, Lewis Peachey and Yusuf Aydin all in the 21-man squad.

And though the trio are still yet to make their Knights debuts, it is hoped that they can be kept longer than their current deals, which last for a fortnight.

“Ideally, yes,” said Ford when asked if he hopes to secure longer-term deals. “I suppose it depends on the injury situations at their parent clubs and how they play and the injury situation here too.

“I wouldn’t have brought them in, if I didn’t want to keep them and I’d love to keep them, but we’ll have to see how things pan out from both sides, from us and their parent clubs.”

Given the number of players brought in over the off-season and this week as well as the injuries suffered, it’s been tricky for York to have consistency in selection early on this year.

“The combinations are changing out there weekly and that will have an impact to some degree but the players aren’t using it as an excuse,” said Ford.

“I think that the players are making a good fist of it and there’s lots of signs that they are getting better and hopefully we can get some more consistency in those combinations which will help that through.”

York City Knights squad: Marsh, Salter, Atkins, K Dixon, O’Hagan, R Dixon, Jubb, Scott, Cuthbertson, Stock, Kirmond, Green, Spears, Porter, Jones-Bishop, Barcoe, Washbrook, Dean, Aydin, Keyes, Peachey.