COUGARS head coach Craig Lingard has confirmed his first-team squad numbers for the 2017 season.

With the exception of Josh Casey, who has moved from 32 to 3 following confirmation of his new deal last week, the remaining players from the previous campaign have retained the same numbers.

Ritchie Hawkyard has requested to remain as number 22 in the list, which means the number one jersey currently remains vacant following the departure of Jesse Sheriffe to Oxford RL.

New signings Matty Beharrell, Mike Emmett, Josh Tonks, Davey Dixon and Nathan Conroy are included in the first 17, as is Sean Hesketh, who reclaims the number ten shirt following two seasons away from the club with Batley Bulldogs.

Trialling trio James Pickering, Lewis Davey and Callum Dunne have been handed 28, 30 and 31 respectively. Should they not earn a first-team contract in February, these numbers will be vacated.

Lingard said: "The main priority was the players that remain from 2016 retained the squad numbers they had for this past season and, with the exception of Josh Casey, they have.

"The lads who have joined the club have been assigned numbers based on availability and requests – Brad Nicholson being the prime example of this as he requested to have the 29 jersey he had worn at Doncaster in the past season.

"My decision to give the three trialists squad numbers is an incentive for them to earn first-team contracts but, should they not be offered a deal, they will be offered a place in Scott Lindsey’s reserves side."

The number six shirt remains retired in memory of Danny Jones following his tragic death in May 2015.

2017 KEIGHLEY COUGARS FIRST TEAM SQUAD NUMBERS:

2 Andy Gabriel, 3 Josh Casey, 4 Danny Lawton, 5 Davey Dixon, 6 In memory of Danny Jones, 7 Matty Beharrell, 8 Scott Law, 9 James Feather, 10 Sean Hesketh, 11 Josh Lynam, 12 Brendon Rawlins, 13 Mike Emmett, 14 Adam Brook, 15 Neil Cherryholme, 16 Will Milner, 17 Nathan Conroy, 18 Josh Tonks, 19 Matthew Bailey, 20 Nathan Kitson, 21 Emmerson Whittel, 22 Ritchie Hawkyard, 23 Fran Welsh, 24 Liam Darville, 25 Ben Sagar, 26 Vinny Finigan, 27 Sean Kelly, 28 James Pickering, 29 Brad Nicholson, 30 Lewis Davey, 31 Callum Dunne.