LUCKLESS Mark Spurr could be facing a lay-off of at least two months after cracking his jaw on his first start for York City Knights.

The 23-year-old former Great Britain Students international is looking to make his way at National League level after finishing university, but his progress is now on hold as he will miss the Northern Rail Cup group campaign and possibly the start of the National League Two season.

He suffered the break during the Mark Cain testimonial match at Huntington Stadium on Sunday, playing for the Knights against Cain's All Stars' outfit, and underwent surgery on Monday morning to insert a metal plate in his jaw.

He said: "I've been told to stay off solid foods for four weeks and I'm estimating about eight to ten weeks out depending how it develops.

"I'm very disappointed. It's a new club for me, I'm enjoying my time there and I was wanting to get games under my belt. I've been giving my all in training and I was hoping to get into the first team."

Headingley-based Mark, who was with Castleford Tigers Academy as a teenager, helped Leeds Met win the BUSA (British Universities Sports Association) Rugby League Championship last year, going undefeated through the season, and he toured Australia with Great Britain Students.

Having graduated in sports science, he joined the Knights in the closed season and made his debut as a substitute in the Boxing Day friendly against Hunslet.

He added: "My first objective now is to get fit but my goal this year is to become a first-team regular.

"It's a good club. I've been impressed with the set-up and the attitude - it's very professional."

Older brother Chris Spurr, an established first-teamer at Huntington Stadium, said it was a "massive blow" for Mark.

"He played at Castleford up to the age of about 19 or 20 and he wants to get back playing at this level," said Chris.

"He's been going well in training and he would have been pushing for a spot in the 17."

It is thought he suffered the injury - which has meant he has had to take time off from his new teaching job in Wakefield - when catching an elbow in a tackle.

Chris added: "I thought he was winded at first but he came off holding his jaw. He just seemed to catch an elbow but I don't think it was anything intentional."

York are next in action when they entertain Castleford Tigers a week tomorrow (7.30pm).