HAMISH Barnes is keeping his options open regarding his future but says his overriding focus is on Cougars’ promotion bid.

The 24-year-old centre from Halifax has impressed since being brought to Cougar Park by Paul March at the start of last season.

But with huge doubts surrounding March’s position as head coach – it was recently confirmed he will leave if he fails to take the team up – a number of players could depart.

Barnes is out of contract at the end of the season and faces a dilemma over whether to accept the deal that Keighley have offered him and hope they go up or pursue a move elsewhere.

Bradford Bulls and the newly-formed Toronto Wolfpack have been linked with Barnes and the Jamaica international believes he would thrive in a full-time environment.

Barnes (pictured), who had a spell on the sidelines earlier this year with a shoulder problem, missed last weekend’s home win over London Skolars with a leg injury but could feature against Doncaster on Sunday.

He said: “It’s definitely flattering to see my name being linked to other clubs.

“In my first season at Keighley, I struggled to play a couple of games in a row.

“I couldn’t break into the team properly, but in pre-season I set myself a goal of playing every game.

“I believe I would have done had I not been injured.

“That was my main objective – to have a big season, get noticed and move up.

“The thing with Keighley is that you don’t want to be signing for a club if you don’t know who the coach is going to be.

“You might not like the coach and he might not like you and give you game-time.

“Things like this have to be taken into consideration because it was Marchy who gave me a chance and said he believed in me.

“Obviously we still can go up but you have to take the uncertainty of that into account.

“It’s a funny time at Keighley at the moment, so my agent is exploring various options for me, although I’ve not had any offers from any other clubs just yet.

“I still want to learn and develop as a player because I’m still fairly new to professional rugby league.”

Barnes was playing for Halifax Irish and got picked to play for Yorkshire before being selected to represent BARLA’s Great Britain Under-23s on their tour to Jamaica.

He then began training with Keighley in February 2015 and, after scoring in a friendly against Victoria Rangers, he signed a deal for the rest of the 2015 campaign before committing his future for the current campaign.

Barnes, who works as a gardener for Calderdale Council, added: “My dream since I have been a little kid is to be a full-time rugby player and Marchy has said he believes I would really develop in such an environment.

“I would like my future sorted by the end of the season but my main focus is on helping Keighley to go up.

“It would be a real dilemma then if we did get promoted, so I’m just keeping my options open right now.

“Going up will be difficult but it’s still a real possibility. If we went up, a lot of players would want to stay as well, so that’s the main focus.”

Cougars will be without Paul White on Sunday after he was handed a one-game suspension by the RFL following his Grade B punching charge for his dismissal against Rochdale. Vinny Finigan is set for a recall, while March is set to welcome back Josh Lynam and Brendon Rawlins from injury along with Barnes.

However, he could still be without Paul Handforth and Johnny Walker for the trip to South Yorkshire.

Doncaster are set to welcome Mason Tonks back after he missed their defeat to Toulouse through concussion. Jordie Hedges will return following his three-match suspension but the Dons will be without Mike Kelly, who underwent knee surgery earlier in the week.