WINGER Lee Lingard is hoping to be fit to play in one or both of York City Knights' two remaining friendlies after undergoing minor surgery.

Lingard has been struggling with a damaged knee in pre-season but went under the knife yesterday for a check-up and to clean the cartilage.

The Knights face Castleford Tigers on Friday, January 29, and Leeds Rhinos on Sunday, February 4, before the season kicks off with a Northern Rail Cup group game away to Gateshead on February 11.

And Lingard said: "If all goes well, I should be okay in a few weeks and I hope to be back playing by the next game against Cas."

Former York coach Roger Millward is recovering from cancer surgery.

Stand-off Millward, who is among the great players listed on the Great Britain Hall of Fame, underwent a 12-hour operation just before Christmas.

He had been diagnosed with cancer of the chin, with surgeons using part of his arm to rebuild the jaw after taking away the problem areas.

Millward, who captained the Lions ten times between 1968 and 1975 and made more than 400 appearances for Hull KR between 1966 and 1980, winning every honour in the game, was in charge at York Wasps for six months in 1994.