Back row forward Brett Ferres, 23, (pictured right) has put pen to paper on a deal that keeps him at The Jungle for a further three years and is delighted to continue to play a leading role for the team he supported as a boy.

He said: "I was very happy to join my hometown team in the close season and equally happy to commit myself to the club for another three years beyond this year.

"I have really enjoyed my first term at Cas and at our best we have shown that we can match most teams in the competition and we are still in the hunt for the play-offs.

"I'm pretty happy with my own form this season, although you are always looking to improve, and everything tells me that the club is moving in the right direction and I want to be part of that."

When Ferres joined the Tigers last November he signed a three-year deal, but because of how relatively late it was done he had a "get-out" clause after his first season. That clause will not be exercised now he has signed the new extended deal.

The former Castleford Scholarship player previously played for Bradford and Wakefield and has four England caps. This season he has made 18 appearances for the Tigers and has scored eight tries.

Tigers coach Terry Matterson was keen to keep Ferres on board.

He said: "This is very good news for the club. I have been very impressed with Brett's efforts since joining.

"He is very professional in everything that he does and I'm sure he isn't too far away from a recall to the England squad.

"I feel his best rugby is in front of him. He's fitted in well here and has got a lot of ability and will only get better."

Ferres picked up a knee injury in last weekend's narrow 22-20 defeat to Catalans Dragons, but it is not as serious as first thought and he is expected to line-up for Castleford against his old club at Bradford this Sunday.

Utility back James Ford could also make the squad after responding to treatment for his hamstring injury, but winger Kirk Dixon is a big doubt with a rib injury that forced him to leave the field in the first half against the Dragons.

Ryan Hudson, Brent Sherwin and James Evans are also still on the sidelines for at least one more week so the Tigers are short on numbers again for a game that could prove crucial for their hopes of reaching the Super League play-offs.

"Ideally you want all your squad available and pressure on positions. At the mo-ment we haven't got that and we've got to get the 17 that are out there performing to the best of their ability," said Matterson.

"It's a four-point game because if Bradford win this one they are right there breathing down our necks.

"We had a real opportunity to move up the table last week and didn't grab hold of it. We can't be saying the same thing in a couple of weeks time.

"It's getting very tight and we can't let the teams in sixth, seventh and eighth get away from us any further.

"Bradford are a strong side. We had a good game with them last time and it was one of the few times when we actually got out of jail and won a close game.

"They're probably feeling a bit stiff from that game and they're coming off two losses as well so we know they'll be ready for this one. We need to be as ready, if not more."