The Tigers expect to be without the influential winger until Spring-time
Hull City have been rocked by yet another major injury setback with the news that Mohamed Belloumi is set to miss the early weeks of the New Year.
Belloumi sustained a hamstring tear in the latter stages of City‘s Boxing Day draw with Sheffield Wednesday, and the results of a hastily arranged MRI scan showed the damage, with him expected to be sidelined until late March.
The Tigers have arranged for another consultation in London this week in the hope that the prognosis is not as serious as first thought and that he can return sooner.
The Algerian winger had been in terrific form since returning from an eight-game lay-off following a hamstring injury he picked up against Southampton, having made his comeback from ACL surgery.
Belloumi limped out of the action after 72 minutes at Hillsborough, having scored a fine goal to draw the Tigers level, complaining of discomfort in his leg.
Boss Sergej Jakirovic admitted afterwards that he was not optimistic about Belloumi’s prognosis, and his worst fears look to have again been realised.
News of the 23-year-old’s latest injury setback will come as a hammer blow to both him and Jakirovic, who continues to have his plans hampered by injuries to key players, despite the Tigers sitting fourth in the league going into the New Year.
Belloumi joins 10-goal forward Joe Gelhardt in being sidelined at a crucial juncture of the term, though the Leeds United loanee is at least expected back in mid-January, shortly before Eliot Matazo.
The club are also sweating on the fitness of Ryan Giles, who came off after just five minutes of City’s eye-catching win over Middlesbrough on Monday night with a scan scheduled for Tuesday afternoon, but Lewie Coyle is expected to be fine, despite being substituted in the second half.
“It’s a hamstring injury, and we will see,” Jakirovic told Hull Live. “This week, he will go to London to see one specialist, and then we will see after this meeting what the damage is and how long he will be off the pitch.”
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