Hull City's Jack Hobbs sees light at end of injury tunnel
HULL City defender Jack Hobbs is "ahead of schedule" on his lengthy comeback trail – and could be back in action as early as November.
Hobbs suffered cruciate ligament damage in his right knee during the Tigers' 2-0 defeat to Coventry in March, condemning him to a rehabilitation of up to nine months.
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Jack Hobbs
The 24-year-old has made pleasing progress over the summer and is now working towards a return to training over the next six weeks.
City boss Steve Bruce will take no chances on the fitness of Hobbs but he has been delighted to see the £800,000 signing from Leicester making giant strides back towards the first-team picture.
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"Jack's doing great, as we all expected he would," Bruce told the Mail.
"I've only known him for seven or eight weeks but he's a resilient, tough, hard-working pro.
"He'll be giving himself every opportunity to get back as soon as he can.
"I would say he's slightly ahead of schedule, but we won't be rushing anything."
Although Hobbs is yet to train with the City squad since Bruce's appointment in June, the City boss has made a conscious attempt to kept the defender in his plans.
That included Hobbs travelling to Portugal for the club's warm-weather training camp in July where he told the Mail anything less than a nine-month lay-off "would be a bonus."
Hobbs, who had been an ever-present and captain when injury struck in March, could now target a reserve team game in November and, providing there are no complications, be in contention for a Championship return before 2012 is out.
Bruce added: "We'd still expect him to be out until at least the start of November, and it might not be until this time next season that we see Jack being right back to his very best. It's a very difficult injury to get over.
"We're seeing him out on the grass running around with a ball so he's doing very well.
"The one thing that you can't do with a cruciate is to rush them. There's certain methods you've got to stick to because it's not an injury you want to take risks with.
"He's certainly doing everything he can to give himself a great chance so, touch wood, everything continues to go well."
Hobbs is now working to a similar timescale to team-mate Tom Cairney.
The midfielder suffered a knee injury in the League Cup defeat to Doncaster last month and is currently wearing a knee brace around the City training ground.
An absence of at least three months is expected for Cairney, but there are no guarantees the 21-year-old will play again before the turn of the year.
Comments
by VoiceNreason
Friday, September 14 2012, 11:07AM
“As for Jack Hobbs, dont rush and take you time. But City will be that much stronger when Jacks back.”
by VoiceNreason
Friday, September 14 2012, 11:04AM
“No to Campbell and No to Wickham. People are obsessed with them. Until Fryatt is ruled out for a long period we are ok. The loan window is open until 4th November so need to rush. We have enough for now but anymore long term injuries and the vast pool of available talent will have to be tapped. For now the likes of Meyler-Campbell-Wickham are not available anyway.
The main 11 looks strong and City haqve a strong bench for a change. Happy days.”
by SnothillBaz
Friday, September 14 2012, 10:02AM
“Merlin, regarding Campbell there does not seem to be much happening at the Sunderland end. I am sure that if Campbell becomes available, he will be in there like a shot now that it seems that Fryatt could be out for almost the rest of the season, sounds like he needs an operation on his Achilles as it has not been responding to injections.
Connor Whickam has been mentioned as a possible loanee, but to me he looks like a one-hit wonderboy.”
by SnothillBaz
Friday, September 14 2012, 9:49AM
“Pleased to see that Hobbs is a bit of a tough nut, it was a fantastic, brave, last-ditch tackle which caused the injury. Now that Bruce has played pretty darn well since coming into the back three, Hobbs will have to fight for his place back.
It will be interesting to see what will happen with young Liam Cooper when Hobbs comes back. I understand he refused to go out on loan to get some match time.”
by merlin_
Friday, September 14 2012, 9:39AM
“Injuries are a major worry and any side having a serious tilt at promotion has to have quality in depth - certainly in the spine of the team. The acquisition of another striker now has to be a top prority - though J Simpson's form is reassuring and I also believe Aaron has come back this season more as himself. We need to use pace and space more effectively and the ability to run at defences and score with alacrity is Fraizer Campbell country.”