CRAIG Lingard says new recruit Joe Lumb arrives at Cougar Park with 'a massive point to prove' after a frustrating season with Bradford Bulls.

The hooker has joined Keighley from their League One neighbours and is determined to make an impact for his new club.

While a host of youngsters were thrust into the first-team spotlight at Odsal this season following the old Bulls club's liquidation, Lumb has mainly had to look on from the sidelines. The 21-year-old featured just three times, having made ten appearances the previous year.

Cougars coach Lingard said: "When we spoke to Joe and we asked him what he was looking at achieving, he’s certainly got a massive point to prove – not only to Bradford but also to himself and to everybody else in the league.

"The attitude he’s got is spot on. He wants to get as high as he possibly can in the game.

"It sounds like a strange comment to make but he doesn’t want to be playing for Keighley Cougars in League One – he wants to play at as high a level as he possibly can and that’s the sort of attitude that we want.

"If we can get him to a high level with Keighley Cougars, brilliant, as it means he is playing well with us.

"Then if a team from the top end of the Championship or Super League comes in for him, brilliant, as we are doing our job, playing some decent rugby and are doing well."

Lumb, who still had two years left on his contract at Odsal, began his career with Bradford amateur outfit West Bowling. He then joined Cougars Reserves before signing with the Bulls Academy.

Lingard already knows about Lumb's game, having worked with the player when the Cougars chief used to coach in the Bulls youth set-up.

And he sees similarities with retiring Keighley skipper James Feather, who also wore the number nine shirt.

Lingard said: "I worked with him at Bradford when I worked on the scholarship, so I know a bit about him.

"He is very very similar in terms of the way he plays the game to James Feather. I don’t want to put too much pressure on him but he is that sort of player.

"He is a real aggressive type of kid in defence. He likes to get out of the line and put a shot on but he is also smart around that dummy half position.

"If need be he could drop in and cover at 13 so he gives us some options in the middle of the park.

"I’m really looking forward to getting Joe down. He fits into the mould of people that we want, so he is ideal for our group for next season."