FORMER New Zealand star Jake Webster will be available to York City Knights on dual registration for Sunday’s Kingstone Press Championship trip to Hunslet Hawks.

The 30-year-old Castleford Tigers centre, who has been sidelined for just short of 12 months with a knee injury, will come into contention for the Knights, with coach Gary Thornton saying: “It is an option for us.”

Overseas players do not normally qualify for dual registration, but the Tigers say he has been cleared by the Rugby Football League after being granted “indefinite leave to remain” in the country.

Castleford boss Daryl Powell, the former York coaching consultant, said: “It will be great to have him back. He’s a high-quality player and he looks in good shape.

“We need to manage him in the right way but, when we get him on the field, we know what he’s going to deliver as he’s a quality individual.

“Jake will put pressure on the centres but also on the back-rowers as well as playing him there is something that I’m considering.”

Webster, who won eight caps for the Kiwis from 2005 to 2007, spent five seasons with Hull KR before joining the Tigers on a three-year contract ahead of the start of the 2013 season, but made just seven appearances before being injured.