City’s remarkable run of bad luck looks set to continue
Sergej Jakirovic has more injury woe to contend with(Image: Alfie Cosgrove/News Images)
Hull City’s impressive 4-2 win over play-off rivals Derby County on Tuesday evening was marred by yet more injury despair.
Ahead of kick-off, the Tigers’ worst fears were realised after scan results in London showed Yu Hirakawa’s ankle injury required surgery, which will see him sidelined for around four months, meaning he will miss the remainder of the season.
The winger, on loan from Bristol City, suffered the innocuous injury in the second half of Saturday’s defeat to QPR, having teed up Joe Gelhardt’s goal with a wonderful driving run.
It’s a recurrence of the injury he sustained playing for Japan in the 2024 summer Olympics, and it’s expected he will now go under the knife early next week.
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City have been in regular discussions with their counterparts at Ashton Gate, and it’s expected he will return to the Robins for his rehabilitation once surgery has been completed.
The exciting winger will be desperate to recover in time to prove his fitness for this summer’s World Cup, but he will face a race against time to recover and ensure he’s part of the squad.
News of Hirakawa’s major setback comes as another major blow to boss Sergej Jakirovic, who has been plagued by serious injury troubles all season.
On Tuesday night against the Rams, Ryan Giles suffered his second hamstring injury in the space of two months.
Only recently back from a five-week layoff for the problem he sustained early on in the win at Middlesbrough after Christmas, Giles pulled up in the second half with the visitors on the attack and was eventually replaced by Cody Drameh.
It’s likely Giles will be out for the next six weeks, but that timeframe will be confirmed later this week after a scan.
There is, however, brighter news on the horizon with Matt Crooks. The influential playmaker was named on the bench against Derby, but didn’t get on the pitch.
Crooks is expected to be involved at Portsmouth on Saturday, as City go in search of successive Championship wins.
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