Need to know
City’s campaign has been blighted by injury troubles since the beginning
Sergej Jakirovic has been without a host of key players throughout the season(Image: Pro Sports Images)
Hull City will be without a host of key first-team players when they travel to face Portsmouth at Fratton Park in another of the Championship’s early kick-offs.
No fewer than eight players will not make the trip to the South Coast, with City’s injury list picking up two fresh arrivals in the past two games alone, with Yu Hirakawa and Ryan Giles suffering serious issues against QPR and Derby County, respectively.
City have also seen the likes of John Lundstram, Cody Drameh, Joe Gelhardt, Liam Millar, Oli McBurnie and Matt Crooks all miss large chunks of the season. Crooks is set to return at Fratton Park, and Semi Ajayi, sidelined with a hamstring injury since AFCON last month, could return.
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Here’s a look at where things are….
Mo Belloumi
Sidelined with the hamstring injury he sustained at Sheffield Wednesday on Boxing Day, after only returning from his ACL injury earlier in the season, the Algerian winger is expected back towards the end of next month. Potentially, that could be pushed back until the beginning of April, depending on how his rehab progresses.
Eliot Matazo
The Belgian midfielder sustained his ACL injury during the defeat at Cardiff City 12 months ago, and is finally back in training after a year on the sidelines. Matazo is likely to be given some Under-21 outings to get used to playing matches again, before he’s reintroduced to Championship action.
Darko Gyabi
One of City’s summer arrivals, Gyabi had impressed in the weeks before he sustained a groin injury in the New Year’s Day defeat to Stoke City, scoring the winning goal at Middlesbrough in the days before. The dynamic midfielder is unlikely to play again this season.
Yu Hirakawa
On loan from Bristol City, the Japan international had become an instant favourite on the terraces with a stunning assist for Joe Gelhardt’s goal against QPR. Later in that game, the winger sustained a damaged ankle and is now expected to need surgery. That could yet rule him out of this summer’s World Cup in North America.
Ryan Giles
City’s latest injury victim, Giles, pulled up with a hamstring problem early on in the second half of Tuesday night’s 4-2 win over Derby County. The full-back had only recently returned from five weeks on the sidelines with the hamstring injury to the opposite leg he sustained at Boro. The prognosis isn’t great, and he could be out for two months.
Toby Collyer
Another victim to a hamstring problem, the Manchester United loanee has only managed a short cameo for the Tigers so far since arriving last month. He is, however, nearing a return and could feature against Millwall next weekend.
Matty Jacob
It’s been another injury-hit campaign for the left-back, which started at Reading. After coming back into the fold at City during Giles’ initial absence, Jacob has himself been hit by an MCL injury to his knee, and is facing a period of time out of action which could be as long as two months.
Harvey Cartwright
The young goalkeeper continues to be hit by problems after sustaining a thigh injury during an impressive loan spell in the National League with Hartlepool, and remains on the comeback trail.
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