The dynamic midfielder is back on the pitch after more than 12 months off it
Eliot Matazo is on the road back to full fitness at Hull City(Image: George Wood/Getty Images)
Eliot Matazo will aim to step up his comeback from knee surgery next week, with the Belgian midfielder hopeful of playing an hour against Sheffield United’s Under-21s at the MKM Stadium.
Matazo took a giant step in his recovery on Tuesday when he played 30 minutes for Hull City’s Under-21s at Peterborough United, in what was his first outing in more than a year.
One of City‘s signings in January last year, Matazo, damaged his ACL in the defeat at Cardiff City in late February and has been sidelined ever since.
Playing 30 minutes in the Under-21s’ 3-2 win against Posh was an important step on the road back to full fitness, and he’ll be monitored in training over the next few days, ahead of that clash with the Blades next week – goals from Harry Revill, Nathan Tinsdale and Pharrell Brown had the Tigers three up, before surviving a fightback to win.
City are reluctant to put a timescale on when he might be considered for a return to the first team fold, especially given both Liam Millar and Mo Belloumi were hit by hamstring injuries shortly after recovering from their respective ACL injuries.
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For now, Matazo will continue to build up his minutes with Conor Sellars’ Under-21s, but Jakirovic can’t wait to have him back and available for first team selection.
“I like Eliot in that he doesn’t have fear,” the Tigers boss told Hull Live. “He isn’t afraid to challenge to go in with the ball if it’s a 50/50 challenge,” Jakirovic told Hull Live after he made his comeback.
“It’s good, so everything is going according to plan. Next Tuesday, he will play against Sheffield United at the MKM Stadium. It’s the plan to get more minutes, 60 if it’s possible, and then we will see, but he’s a very good player. I know everything about Elliot, so we are buzzing.”
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