Matty Fryatt set for surgery as Hull City's injuries mount

MATTY Fryatt's season appears to be in tatters as he faces up to the last resort of surgery to finally cure his long-standing Achilles injury.

The Hull City striker, who has already endured an eight-week spell on the sidelines, suffered an untimely set-back in training yesterday morning just a week after he had raised hopes of a comeback later this month.

An operation now appears inevitable for Fryatt and he could face a further six months out if those fears are realised.

Although the 26-year-old is yet to feature in City's Championship season, his expected absence for the majority of the campaign comes as a serious blow for manager Steve Bruce.

"Matty broke down in training and it doesn't look good for him," Bruce told the Mail.

"We're probably looking at an operation I would have thought, which is drastic really.

"I haven't seen him really play yet since I've been here and it's a disaster for him.

"If he does need an operation on his Achilles that's going to be him out for a long time.

"It's been a bad week in terms of results and that's been compounded with Matty now."

Fryatt's value to the Tigers has been significant since arriving from Leicester in a £1.2m deal in January 2011.

A return of 25 goals in 60 league starts have helped him finish as the club's leading scorer for the past two seasons and stand as a rare source of attacking strength.

The last three months have witnessed an ongoing fight for fitness, though, and after fighting a hamstring injury in pre-season, he aggravated an Achilles problem in the League Cup win over Rotherham United on August 11.

A series of injections had seemingly cured the injury and lined him up for a return to action after next week's international break.

But coming to terms with his setback in training yesterday, Bruce was fearing the worst.

"He was in full training, just like he was last week, when it happened," he explained.

"We thought we were making progress with it, but in the morning he was obviously not comfortable with it again.

"It's obviously a big problem for him.

"We don't know the severity of it yet and we don't know if an operation will definitely be needed, but all the indications suggest that will be the next step.

"He's had injections and all sorts of treatment so it looks like an operation could be on the cards."

Fryatt's injury caps an injury-plagued week for the Tigers.

After losing James Chester with a hamstring injury in the 3-1 loss to Peterborough United last weekend, Alex Bruce joined his defensive partner in the treatment room when suffering a groin tear during the 3-2 defeat to Blackpool on Tuesday.

Both defenders will miss tomorrow's trip to Sheffield Wednesday, but could be available when City return to action after the international fortnight when hosting Ipswich Town on October 20.

Joe Dudgeon's nagging knee problem also makes him a doubt for the trip to Hillsborough, but Bruce hopes to see his injury problems improving after this weekend.

"We don't think it's anything too serious with either James or Alex," he said.

"They've both got small tears, one hamstring and one groin, and it's a shame.

"It's amazing how it happens to you when you've got two injuries in one area, not to mention Hobbsy being out long-term as well.

"Both could be looking at being fit for the Ipswich game (on October 20) but we'll have to wait and see."

JACK Hobbs is continuing his long rehabilitation from knee surgery in April but remains at least four weeks away from a return to action.