WINGER Wayne McHugh has been left out of the Knights side that goes to Rochdale tomorrow (3pm) seeking a fourth straight win.

Eyebrows were raised on Thursday when the former Featherstone flier was put in the reserves team that lost narrowly to Keighley.

Director of rugby James Ratcliffe said he and player-coach Paul March wanted to watch him in his preferred position at full-back or centre.

However, he was always likely to be omitted from the first team having missed training due to work and family commitments, and his absence opens a gap for fit-again Danny Ratcliffe to return.

Player-boss Paul March said both factors were taken into consideration when they picked their team for Spotland.

“Wayne struggled to get to training – the decision is nothing to do with how he’s played,” he said.

“He’s been improving week in, week out, but could not commit to training this week. He said he would be there from next Tuesday and so will be pushing for a place for the London Skolars game (a week tomorrow).”

McHugh had been favourite with Knights bookmaker Ryan Gill to score the first try tomorrow.

March added: “He was able to make training on Thursday so we asked him to play for the reserves instead. He played in his preferred position (at full-back) and that will give him some added confidence and it gives myself and James other options. He does a job for us on the wing but he likes to play full-back or centre.

“I thought he played very well. He linked up very well. He was on his own with a lot of young lads around him and he pulled them through. They lost but a lot of credit comes out of it.”

March and fellow coach Ratcliffe were leaving it late to finalise their line-up. Danny Ratcliffe, pictured right, was fighting for the full-back role with impressive current incumbent Dave Clayton, while Richard Knight, Adam Mitchell and Kris Peacock were all pushing for recalls.

Otherwise, it would be the same side that held on to beat Keighley 24-22 last time out, all minor injuries having cleared up in the fortnight since then.

Rochdale: from Giles, Rivett, Gillam, Fogerty, Cuniffe, Johnson, Ainscough, Robinson, Houghton, Corcoran, Sinfield, Donaghue, Thomas, Strong, Billings, Isherwood, Hough, McGovern, Gallagher, Anderson.

Knights: from Clayton, Ratcliffe, Oakes, Haberecht, M Mitchell, Grimshaw, P March, Sullivan, Hughes, Applegarth, Kelly, Ross, D March, Hodgson, Clough, Woodcock, Barrow, A Mitchell, Knight, Peacock.

Referee: Warren Turley (Leigh) Kick off: 3pm.