The winger has not played for City since the win over Swansea City in late January
Hull City’s David Akintola in action earlier this season(Image: Scott Heppell/PA Wire)
David Akintola’s hopes of being added to Hull City’s squad for the remaining seven games of the Championship season have been dashed after Yu Hirakawa opted against having surgery on his ankle injury.
As revealed last month, City had approached the EFL with a view to de-registering Hirakawa after he sustained an ankle injury in the win over Derby County at the MKM Stadium on February 24.
The EFL refused, as the Japan international had not been ruled out for four months and could now return before the end of the season should the Tigers secure a place in the play-offs, in what would be a huge boost to Sergej Jakirovic.
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Eliot Matazo could also yet feature before the season comes to an end, which has closed another door for the Nigerian international who joined City in the summer, and has gone on to play 21 times, scoring once in the win over Sheffield United and claiming two assists for goals at Bristol City and Preston North End. He also scored the winning penalty in the FA Cup shoot-out win over Blackburn Rovers.
City had left two spots available in their 25-man squad, which was submitted after the winter transfer window closed, with Matazo and Mo Belloumi both claiming the remaining places.
On the same basis that the EFL rejected City’s request over Hirakawa, the same would apply to Matazo, and he will therefore remain registered.
Darko Gyabi is another who had been expected to miss much of the remaining weeks of the season, but is expected to make significant progress over the international break and could yet have a part to play.
Should City suffer any more major injury setbacks that would rule out anyone beyond the end of the current campaign, then Akintola could still have a way back into the fold. As it stands, the 30-year-old will continue to train with the first team squad at Cottingham.
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