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YORK City Knights boss Paul March says he is not in a rush to bring in a new playmaker despite seeing his captain ruled out for the season.

Half-back Scott Rhodes, appointed skipper in January, needs shoulder surgery and will not play again this year.

It is a massive blow to player-coach March, who is also facing another spell on the sidelines himself after suffering a calf injury against Barrow on Bank Holiday Monday. The half-back only returned to the team at Easter after breaking a hand in pre-season.

In better news, Danny Ratcliffe is expected to be okay despite also limping out of Monday's game, and he is likely to continue his half-back partnership with fellow youngster Danny Grimshaw for Sunday's tough trip to National League Two title favourites Oldham.

But, with Andy Gargan having already left the club to return to amateurs York Acorn, it all leaves Grimshaw as the only fit out-and-out half-back on the Knights' books, Ratcliffe's preferred position being at full-back.

Neverthess March was happy to keep faith with his young guns.

"Losing Scott is a big blow. There is a disc pushing on the spinal cord, which is increasingly causing pain in his neck.

"It's not a result of one direct hit but rather wear and tear of playing over the years.

"He's the club captain and he will be missed. But we've got players who have stepped into that role - Danny Grimshaw is playing well."

Asked if he was looking to bring in new blood, March said: "Not at the moment. We will have a look around to see who's available but we will see how things go. If we get any more injuries, we will know who's around."

One potential loan recruit who will not be coming to Huntington Stadium, however, is Leeds youngster Danny Allan.

March admitted he had made enquiries about the York-born starlet who also classes himself a Knights fan, but the Rhinos have ruled out a loan move as the 18-year-old former Heworth ARLC junior is close to a first-team call-up.

The Press believes another option would be Kyle Wood, a youngster at March's former Super League club, Wakefield, who has already had a spell on loan at National League Two rivals Doncaster.

Simon Brown, a loose-forward cum stand-off with Leeds' academy, is another on the radar.

Meanwhile, however, the Knights are on the verge of signing Gareth Greenwood.

As reported by The Press, the former Huddersfield hooker cum loose-forward has been training with the club and turned out in the reserves friendly against Hunslet last week.

He is set to play again for the reserves tonight in their Reserves Grade Academy Championship division one opener at home to Batley, and could be pushing for a first-team appearance against Oldham.

Tonight's reserves match kicks off 8pm. Tom Hodgson (ankle), Oliver Wilcox-Harrison (ankle) and Luke Watling (knee) are all out, but hopefully will be fit for the reserves trip to Featherstone next week.

First-teamers Dave Leeke, Adam Ender-sby, Steve Grundy and Dale Ferris, who made his National League debut at Barrow, are in the 17, as is Scarborough-based teenage prop Dan Stanley, who is now on the books.

Knights reserves (v Batley tonight): from Wilson, Leeke, Ferris, T Wilcox-Harrison, Danville, Blaney, Joe Stearman, Varley, Greenwood, Speck, Endersby, Jack Stear-man, Hunter, Stanley, Maud, Walton, Grundy.

10:34am Thursday 27th March 2008

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