YORK KNIGHTS head coach Mark Applegarth has backed Jon Bennison to go from strength to strength following an injury-disrupted start to his career with the club.
Bennison joined York ahead of this season from St Helens, but he needed surgery on a hip issue that had plagued him last campaign.
As such, the 23-year-old only made his debut in late April, but has gone on to score eight tries in eleven appearances including a hat-trick in last Friday’s defeat to Leigh Leopards.
And Applegarth, who takes his York side to Warrington Wolves on Thursday, knew he had to be patient with Bennison, explaining: “We knew it would take him four or five games to feel match fit again.
“We are getting exactly what we knew with Jon. He is a very experienced campaigner for his age.
“He is still young and he is getting better each week.”
Fellow winger Ben Jones-Bishop, who has been out since April with a broken foot, looks set to return in the near future, Applegarth has confirmed.
“Bish (Jones-Bishop) has done a monster field session this (Monday) morning and the medical and performance teams are doing their final checks,” said the coach.
“If not Leeds (Sunday, August 23) it will be the Wakefield game (Saturday, August 29). There’s light at the end of the tunnel.
“He is old and wise enough to know how it works. It can be a lonely place because as much as people do try and rally around you, you are doing individual gym sessions or rehab sessions.
“He has handled it as an ultimate professional.”