THIS Sunday’s meeting between York City Knights and Newcastle Thunder at the LNER Community Stadium sees under-performing sides looking to put their season’s back on track.

Despite only being promoted from Betfred League One in December, under the recommendation of the RFL Board following the withdrawal of Toronto Wolfpack from Betfred Super League, Newcastle were tipped for big things this year.

The North East club were narrowly beaten in the League One play-off final in 2019 by Oldham and have since recruited substantially under coaches former and current, Simon Finnigan and Eamon O’Carroll, and director of rugby Dennis Betts.

Thunder made a host of signings from Super League clubs over the off-season and saw only a few departures head elsewhere.

Outside backs Calum Turner and Jack Johnson arrived from Castleford Tigers and Warrington Wolves respectively while two new half-backs, Josh Woods and Jake Shorrocks, joined from Wigan Warriors.

In the forwards, Widnes Vikings stars Sam Wilde, Ted Chapelhow and James Chapelhow bolstered the pack while Huddersfield Giants veteran Ukuma Ta’ai penned a deal with Newcastle.

Towering youngster Samy Kibula also signed a season-long loan deal at Kingston Park from Warrington.

With plenty of talent at their disposal and possessing what is thought to be one of the biggest budgets in the division, Newcastle may have been expecting better than the 11th position they currently find themselves in.

From 10 league matches, they have three wins, one draw and six defeats.

Thunder moved adrift of the relegation places after sealing victories over Swinton Lions (30-36) and Oldham (40-6), but they suffered a heavy 68-12 hammering at the hands of unbeaten second-placed side Featherstone Rovers in their last outing at the Millennium Stadium.

One of the few positives to be gleaned from that performance was the showings by the club’s academy graduates.

Four of those - Isaac Nokes, Jake Anderson, Alex Donaghy and Alex Clegg - are in Sunday’s squad.

And following that rout that suffered in West Yorkshire, Newcastle have been handed a boost on the injury front heading into this weekend’s trip.

Five players have come into the Newcastle 21-man squad, with four players back after injury.

Wakefield Trinity loanee half-back Connor Bailey, second-row Cole Oakley, outside back Matty Wright and stand-off Shorrocks are back to full fitness and are available for selection. Ta’ai is back in the squad too.

Newcastle are also able to call upon Wigan prospect Sam Halsall, whose loan from the Super Giants continues for another week.

Dropping out of the Thunder squad are captain Bob Beswick, Calum Turner, Sam Wilde and Evan Lawther.

Turner failed a head injury assessment against former club Featherstone last week and misses out as he undergoes the concussion protocols to return to play.

Wilde is also ruled out of action for Sunday having picked up an ankle injury against the Rovers.

Newcastle Thunder squad: Johnson, Wright, Gill, Shorrocks, Woods, N. Wilde, Trout, Ta’ai, Simons, T. Chapelhow, J. Chapelhow, Bailey, Clegg, Dean, Oakley, Donaghy, Tyrer, Nokes, Hasall, Harrison, Anderson.