Cougars have signed Harry Aaronson from Swinton Lions after the youngster impressed while on trial for the reserves.

The 18-year-old utility back, who can play winger or full back, caught the eye of head coach Craig Lingard, who has handed him a first-team deal.

The Keighley chief said: “Harry has come through our open trials for the reserves side and has already shown me enough to get into the first team and earn himself a contract with the club.

“Given his position, it will be of great help and experience for him to work alongside Ritchie Hawkyard who can help him bring his game on massively and help develop as a player in both training and on the field.

“It will also bring his game on massively to be around the first-team and training alongside established first-teamers and he will be given a chance to put a marker down in our pre-season friendlies.”

Aaronson had two seasons with Swinton in which he made a try-scoring debut aged just 16 against the South Wales Scorpions in 2015.

Aaronson was with the Huddersfield Giants academy before that and has also spent time on loan at Wigan Warriors, where he impressed in the Under-19s, and the North Wales Crusaders.

He has not been assigned a squad number at present.

Meanwhile, Cougars have arranged a pre-season friendly against Hunslet Warriors.

Keighley welcome the Leeds-based amateur outfit on Sunday, January 8 (2pm). The game replaces the original fixture scheduled against a Keighley Amateur select side, with the club hoping to rearrange that friendly at a later date.

Lingard said: “The friendly came about through the Warriors head coach Jamie Benn who is Nathan Graham’s assistant coach for the Scotland students."