JAMES FORD hopes man-of-the-moment Greg Minikin will stay at York City Knights for years to come - but would be proud to propel him into Super League.

Several top-tier outfits are thought to be keeping tabs on the 20-year-old centre, who has come through the ranks under Ford’s tutelage at York, including partner club Castleford and champions St Helens, who saw him at first hand in last month’s Challenge Cup tie.

His performance that night is just one of a string of top-quality displays throughout May which have seen him named the latest The Press Player of the Month.

He was man of the match at Swinton and in last week’s otherwise disappointing defeat at Newcastle, and, having picked up Player of the Year points in every other match last month - against South Wales, Saints and Gloucestershire - he has shot to the top of the Player of the Year leaderboard.

Said head coach Ford: “Greg’s had a good month. He was outstanding at Swinton, had a very good game against St Helens and he was probably one of the few players who came out of the Newcastle game with his reputation in hand.

“This is some of what Greg is capable of. I think he now needs to add that consistency and find ways to get himself into games more for the benefit of the team. As he continues to mature he will do that.”

Asked if he envisaged Minikin being at York next year, Ford said: “I’d like Greg to be a York player long-term. At the same time I want all the players to fulfil their potential and if that’s to play Super League I would do my very best to take him as far as I can.

“If he’s good enough to kick on and play for a club in Super League, that would be great, and we’ve got to do what we can to help him move forward.”

Ford, who was also a centre, coached Minikin in the under-18s and U20s reserves prior to the first team.

“Greg is very happy at York," he added. “He likes the boys and he likes how we do things, which is a real shot in the arm for my support staff and coaching staff.

“Ever since he was 16 we have spoken about his potential and how he will fulfil it.

“With the performances we’ve seen this last month, that’s going to do that sooner rather than later. He’s worked hard for me since the U18s and has done everything I’ve asked him to do.

“I’m sure there are more outstanding performances around the corner and if he does move on into Super League I think everybody at the club should be proud."

Last year, prop Colton Roche spent some time in full-time training at Castleford, making use of the partnership between the clubs. There has so far been no talk of Minikin doing likewise this year but Ford was not ruling it out.

“I want to see all the players kick on and improve and if they can be part of a full-time environment to help them develop then I’m more than willing to look at something like that,” he said.

“It’s mutually beneficially for both clubs and for the players, who’d be accessing good facilities and coaching. It would be another example of dual-reg working well.”

Minikin has gone top of the Player of the Year standings thanks to the three bonus points he gets as Player of the Month, adding to the three points won as man of the match at Newcastle.

Other players to pick up points that night were Mark Applegarth (2pts) and Liam Cunningham (1pt).

Josh Howden got straight onto the leaderboard the previous week in his debut against South Wales as our man of the match (3pts), as much for gelling so quickly with his new team-mates as for his efforts in setting up tries in the 70-0 rout.

In a game where anyone could have picked up points such was the nature of the 13-try romp, hat-trick man Minikin got the nod as our second best player (2pts) and Ben Dent third best (1pt).

Against St Helens, the points-winners were March Player of the Month Ed Smith (3pts), Minikin (2pts) and April Player of the Month Josh Tonks (1pt).

Against Gloucestershire, the points-winners were Tonks (3pts), enhancing his then lead in the standings, two-try Pat Smith (2pts) and the in-form Minikin (1pt).

Against Swinton, the points-winners were man-of-the-match Minikin (3pts), Jack Aldous (2pts) - the reigning Press Player of the year finally getting onto this season’s leaderboard - and Dent (1pt).

The Press Player of the Year standings: Minikin 17pts, Tonks 14, E Smith 10, Cunningham 8, Brining 6, Haynes 5, P Smith 4, Applegarth 3, B Dent 3, Howden 3, Presley 2, A Dent 2, Aldous 2, Roche 1, Morrison 1, Aspinall 1, Craig 1, Carter 1.