LIVEWIRE York City Knights winger Ash Robson has been ruled out for the rest of the season due to the knee injury he suffered last month.

However, the fan favourite has far from played his last game for his hometown club - having agreed a new two-year deal which ties him down until the end of the 2021 season.

The 23-year-old’s initial three-year contract runs out at the end of the current campaign and, having been given an eight- to nine-month recovery period, he will not now play again before then.

However, the Knights delayed confirming news of the injury until securing his signature on the new deal, therefore tempering an otherwise huge blow - with the player himself now focused on "ripping in to his rehab" at the club he loves.

Scan results showed Robson suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury in last month’s 24-14 Betfred Championship victory at Bradford Bulls, and he has been booked in for surgery.

Head coach James Ford said: “I’m absolutely gutted for Ash. He’s been a standout performer for the majority of his time here, but I’m delighted to have re-signed him, which I feel highlights our faith in his ability and character to come back leaner and better than ever.

“Ash has been a challenge, but I really enjoy working with him and I’m looking forward to helping him fulfil his potential on and off the field.

“I’m delighted that the club have re-signed him”

Robson was one of York’s first recruits under the stewardship of chairman Jon Flatman when in January 2017 he joined from Castleford Tigers having put pen to paper on a three-year deal.

By his own admission he began the 2018 season overweight and below-par after issues off the field, but he soon became a standout performer as the Knights stormed to the League One title, ending as the team's second-top scorer with 18 tries in 26 appearances.

He also made a bright start to life in the Championship this term, with two tries in four games including one at Bradford, before injury struck.

Robson said: “At the end of this year I was set to be out of contract, so I just wanted to focus on being the best I can possibly be for the team.

"We have had a fantastic start to the campaign but unfortunately I’ll be cheering on the lads from the sidelines for the rest of the season with this ACL injury.

“There was always a question in my head as to how to go about approaching the club about my contract. You know, 'Is now too soon? Should I wait longer?'.

"I have matured a lot as a bloke on and off the field in the last 12 months and I am in a very good place. However I still tend to wear my heart on my sleeve and I ended up telling Fordy how much I love my hometown club, and how much I really wanted to stay with York.

“After the bad news on the scan result, Jon (Flatman) and Fordy and I had a couple of chats and they agreed to re-sign me for another two years, which I was delighted about.

"The club, the fans, the coaching staff, behind the scenes staff, and the group of blokes we have are all extremely hard working, committed and always give 100 per cent, so it makes it a special place to be as a player.

“I’m looking forward to seeing what the boys can achieve this year, to ripping in to my rehab and recovery after the op, and getting back fit for the 2020 season."