Hull KR host the Knights on Saturday afternoon as they bid to progress to the final four of the Challenge Cup
(Image: SW PIX)
Former Hull KR man Danny Richardson could be fit enough to start for York Knights against his former club this weekend.
That’s according to Knights head coach Mark Applegarth, who has confirmed that Richardson is pushing to make a return to action this week ahead of the club’s Challenge Cup quarter-final with Rovers.
Richardson has made three appearances for York this season after making the switch from Craven Park to the LNER Community Stadium. However, his last outing for the club came in round five of Super League, with Richardson kicking five goals on the night to help York push Wigan within a whisker.
He hasn’t featured since after picking up a quad injury in the build up to the clash with Wakefield Trinity the week after. But, he could be set to return to the action this week.
Sam Wood, another former KR player, could also be set to return to action after a compound finger dislocation, but there’ll be no Ben Jones-Bishop, who has fractured his foot.
“Danny has got potential,” Applegarth said in his pre-match press conference. “Bish will be a no go. He’s got a broken foot so that will be a few more weeks but Danny is not going to be far off if I’m honest with you.
“Woody, we just have to be very smart with his finger. He had a compound dislocation and as you can imagine, if you come back a little bit too early from them and it compounds and dislocates again then, then you’re back at square one.
“Woody is keen to play. He’s a big part of what we do this year and we just have to smart about when we do get him back playing.”
On his team news in general and the suggestion that he could struggle to name a 17-man squad, Applegarth added: “I think they’ve been a bit sensationalised those headlines. We’ll have 17 blokes out there that are going to go as head as they can to get a victory for York Knights in the quarter-final of the Challenge Cup.
“I’m confident in whatever team we put out as long as we stick to our identity and our standards and application, especially with the defensive intent, we’ll be a match for anyone. We’ll be putting 17 out there that are going to go hammer and tong to get a victory on Saturday.”
Applegarth also gave an update on the fitness of Mitch Clark, who hasn’t featured for York this season yet.
“Mitch got an Achilles injury in pre-season. It was a bit of tendinopathy. He’s had a couple of setbacks and we got some injections into it, just to settle it down.
“Now we’re finally on top of it,. Mitch is running and, I couldn’t give you a timeline of when he’s back but he’s making progress in the right direction so I’m really pleased for Mitch, it’s been a frustrating time for him and for us. I’m hoping it will be sooner rather than later that we can introduce him back into training.”