A thorough Hull FC injury update from Andy Last.
Hull FC back rower Jed Cartwright.(Image: Lewis Scott, Hull FC)
Andy Last has stated that Hull FC back rower Jed Cartwright isn’t ‘quite 100% ready for selection’ after returning to ‘full training’ this week.
The back row forward has been out with a hamstring injury since round three, sustaining the blow against York Knights at the end of February. However, Cartwright is now nearing a comeback and has completed his rehab—as posted by the player himself on social media on Sunday.
But in terms of a playing comeback, Last has confirmed that the 29-year-old needs a little bit more work before being thrown into the team once again—and that could come against Huddersfield Giants next week.
“He’s not far away,” Last said. “This is his first week back in full training with us. He’s just not quite 100% to be considered for selection.
“That’s something that we’ll deal with week in, week out. We’ve picked what we think is the best 21 for this week’s game and next week there’s a different opposition and I’m sure there’ll be some changes to the squad next week.”
Elsewhere, Last has given a detailed prognosis on Hull FC players Davy Litten, Ligi Sao, and Lewis Martin. Litten has had a recent knee clearout, while Sao is nursing a shoulder issue and Martin an ankle blow.
“Davy has had a meniscus repair,” Last confirmed to Hull Live. “He was in the 21-man squad (for Leigh). I wasn’t lying. He was going to play. He is a tough kid. But he’s been struggling a little bit with a knee issue.
“We’ve got him scanned just to try and see how we would manage that knee moving forward after the Leigh game, but when they’ve actually scanned it, it’s a little bit more sinister than what they originally thought.
“There was a little bit of meniscus, which was flapping, so he’s had a meniscus repair, but the way that Davy has responded to that meniscus repair has been outstanding.
“There’s not much swelling. He’s walking. He hasn’t got a brace on. He’s really happy with the fact that he’s got it repaired and he’s confident and flying.
“He probably won’t spend as much time on the sidelines as was probably anticipated. He is on the road to recovery and a quicker road than we expected. It’s probably going to be weeks rather than months. It’s great for Davy that we’ve managed to get that done quickly and that he’s responded in the right way.”
On Sao, Last continued: “The MRI scan has shown that there’s no nerve damage, but there’s some bruising on the nerve. With nerves, it can come back instantly or it can take a little bit of time.
“Ligi is starting to get a little bit of strength back. That’s a real positive sign. He’s actually raising the arm up a little bit higher and stuff, so he feels as though it’s coming back, the symptoms and the feeling.
“I’m hoping once that progress starts, it’ll be quite rapid, the progress, but like we say, it’s just all symptom related. It feels as though he’s had a positive couple of days. Hopefully that positivity will continue and he’ll be back sooner rather than later.”
And while a definitive timeframe can’t be given for Litten and Sao, Martin’s situation is more clear-cut.
“He’s still in the boot,” Last said. “He’s had an injection; we’re just trying to speed up that healing process. He’s probably still four weeks away.
“Lewis is trying to use this time away from the game to benefit other areas. He has got some physical development in his upper body to try and get those shoulders back a little bit and hopefully that’ll help him break a few more tackles.
“We’re trying to use this little bit of time away from the game and the rigors of playing week in and week out to improve him physically. Lewis is tracking okay, working hard, and we’re looking forward to having him back.”
Last also gave an update on James Bell, who could have a chance of returning to the Hull side next week after overcoming a knee injury.
“He’s responded well to his treatment,” Last said. “He’s feeling confident. He’s talking about Huddersfield, which would be brilliant, but I think that’s him erring on the side of being a superhuman healer.
“That’s a player for you who is very, very positive. He’s confident that he could be close for the Huddersfield game in terms of selection. But we need to just make sure that we don’t rush it. We need him to be right. It would be great if he does take all the boxes and get through all the protocols from the physio team—we’re certainly a stronger team with James in it.”
Elsewhere, John Asiata (hamstring), Sam Lisone (pec), Connor Bailey (collarbone), Arthur Romano (ankle), and Brad Fash (knee) are undergoing their rehabs and not due back for a couple of months.
Will Pryce and Joe Ward (both ACL) are out for the season. Yusuf Aydin and Roman Dawson are suspended and each have five games to serve.