City will hope their season gets extended by three weeks
Yu Hirakawa could yet return to the Hull City fold if they make the play-offs (Image: Alfie Cosgrove/News Images)
Yu Hirakawa has not given up hope of playing again this season and could yet make a surprise return to Hull City before the end of the Championship campaign.
Boss Sergej Jakirovic had almost written off the Japan international’s season after he picked up a serious ankle injury in the thumping win over Derby County last month.
Hirakawa was initially scheduled for surgery a week after the defeat of the Rams before he sought a second opinion on the existing issue he first sustained at the Olympic Games in Paris two years ago.
The exciting winger eventually opted against going under the knife, instead choosing a natural recovery in a bid to keep his hopes of being part of Japan’s World Cup squad alive.
His determination to get fit quickly could be a benefit to the Tigers, with the 26-year-old hoping he could make a surprise return towards the end of next month, or beginning of May, when City play their final game of the regular season against Norwich City on May 2.
More likely would be a possible return for any play-off campaign that City may yet find themselves in.
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The EFL have confirmed the dates for the play-off semi-finals, with the first legs taking place the following Friday and Saturday (May 8 & 9) after the regular campaign finishes, with second legs a few days later.
Meanwhile, City haven’t yet given up hope that Eliot Matazo could make an appearance before the season ends. The Belgian midfielder had hoped to be potentially involved at the weekend, but he picked up a quad problem, which set back his progress.
City are keen for Matazo to get himself right for the start of pre-season, but he could yet get on the pitch in the final games of the Championship campaign, provided he can prove his fitness.
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