YORK City Knights boss James Ford has hailed the leadership qualities now being displayed by loan star Liam Harris.

The young half-back-cum-full-back became a firm fan favourite at Bootham Crescent in 2017 when scoring 14 tries in 18 appearances on dual-reg from Hull KR, with his performances earning a nomination for the League One Player of the Year award.

He joined Doncaster ahead of the 2018 season before signing for Hull FC 12 months, going on to play 12 times for the Black and Whites since then in addition to games on dual-reg for the Dons.

Now back at York on loan for the rest of this season, Harris got off the mark in his second appearance with a terrific try in Sunday’s stunning win at Widnes, and Ford reckons his all-round persona has made its mark too.

“I thought in the first half Liam was tremendous,” said Ford of the 22-year-old, who twice broke through the Vikings line in the opening period, scoring his touchdown on the back of a one-two with Tim Spears. He also helped to fashion a gilt-edged chance for Perry Whiteley.

“I was really pleased with what he did.

“But I’m also really pleased with the man he has matured into.

“Hull FC have done a remarkable job.

“He was with us (in 2017) as a young boy – a talented young boy, but he had some attributes that reinforced he was still a young boy.

“But you see him in training now and on the field building up to the game, and he’s a leader. He’s become a leader.

“He has to take a lot of credit for that and the staff at Hull FC do also.”

Harris returned to York a fortnight ago on loan and is set to remain with the club for the rest of the campaign barring a crisis of fitness or form at the KCOM Stadium.

With reigning League One Player of the Year Connor Robinson continuing to pull strings at scrum-half and full-back Matty Marsh another option in the pivots, Ford is set to face some tough selection decisions at half-back once the veteran Ben Cockayne returns from injury.

The former Hull KR full-back turned Knights stand-off has been out since early April with knee ligament damage but could be back fighting for his place in the coming weeks.

* BBC Radio York's rugby league commentator, Andy Atkinson, has released a book on the Knights' remarkable 2018 League One title-winning season, from a commentator's perspective.

Called Knights And Days, the book not only charts the team's efforts on the pitch, but the life of a commentator off it, throwing in amusing anecdotes along with memories of players and seasons past.

It is available from the lifelong York fan himself on 07788 936908 or from the Knights club shop at Bootham Crescent on match-days.