YORK City Knights will hand a professional debut to teenage forward Ben Barnard in Sunday’s home clash with Workington Town (3pm).

York are without injured props Masi Matongo (shoulder) and Pauli Pauli (ACL) for the remainder of the season while Ata Hingano, who has played the last two weeks at loose forward, suffered an ankle blow in Saturday’s 24-18 win at Newcastle Thunder, ruling him out of the Workington match.

Fellow middle Ronan Dixon was removed at half time at Newcastle due to an Achilles issue and is also set to be absent on Sunday.

Those injury issues mean that 19-year-old Heworth amateur Barnard, who joins on a trial form basis, will come in on for his first-grade bow.

“A young lad from the local area will make his debut from the bench for us,” head coach James Ford confirmed.

“Ben Barnard had a trial (in April) with us and has been in and around with us for a while.

“The plan was always to have a real close look at him in pre-season. He’s another talented teenager from the area and he’ll get an opportunity this weekend.

“I’m not expecting a complete performance and there’s certainly some gaps in his understanding but he’s a big, strong thing and I’m looking forward to seeing how he handles the physicality.

“He’s been playing with Heworth and I’ve been down to watch Heworth once or twice, they’ve had a good season and have got some good players.

“Ben is a promising player for them and he’s somebody that we feel if we can spend some time with and work at his understanding of his position and the detail around it, he’s got a chance.”

While York have multiple issues in the forwards, there are also problems in the backs, with centres Levi Edwards and Jacob Ogden both in line to miss out this weekend through knocks. Wingers Will Oakes and Olly Butterworth remain out for the year.

“Everyone has injuries at this stage of the season,” Ford was keen to stress. “It’s a tough sport and it’s been a long season. A lot of these players have had to play a lot of games.

“But we’re certainly not going to use it as an excuse. We’re in the play-offs and there’s one final league game.

“We’re going to find some form and have a real crack at winning our first ever play-off game in the Championship.”