Hull City rocked by injury blow as ace hands Ruben Selles major setback.
The Tigers will do without one of their key attacking weapons until late next month at the earliest.
Hull City’s triumphant final home game of 2024 was marred by the revelation that Kasey Palmer will be out until the New Year with an ankle problem.
City were 2-1 winners over Swansea City at the MKM Stadium courtesy of goals from Joao Pedro and Mason Burstow’s terrific late strike, to give them victory at the 14th attempt after their longest such run since 2002, but they did it without one of their key summer signings.
Palmer was a doubt going into the game and it was hoped the Jamaican international would come through and be able to train on Friday, however, their worst fears were confirmed, meaning the playmaker will be sidelined for the next six to eight weeks with the injury he picked up against his former club, Coventry City, last weekend.
“Kasey will be out for between six to eight weeks, so the news was not good yesterday (Friday),” a frustrated Selles told Hull Live, with the 28-year-old joining Liam Millar and Mohamed Belloumi in the treatment room.
“It’s an injury related to the ankle, and the doctor can explain to you better than I can, but, yes, unfortunately, he will be out for the Christmas period. We say it’s not about Kasey. He’s a great player, a fantastic character in the dressing room, and very important for us, but we don’t make heroes. It is what it is, and we will keep moving forward.”
While the news will come as a blow for Selles and Palmer himself, it’s an opportunity for somebody else to step up and make their mark in the team, and Gustavo Puerta did that, playing in a more attacking number eight role against Swansea, hitting the post in the first half in what was his most impressive Tigers display since joining from Bayer Leverkusen.
“It was very powerful,” he said of Puerta’s showing. “I think Gustavo is a great player. Obviously, these things take time, but I think he’s a number eight and can play in the way that we want. He’s adjusting his game to the physicality in England, not the physicality in terms of the last step; he showed that he can win balls and can go (forward), using his body just to protect some balls. He’s quick, he can play, and he has the quality to do it; he has the quality to arrive (into the box), he can defend, and he can cover big distances. I think him or Regan (Slater) on the other side, Steven (Alzate) or Xavi (Simons) are players that can suit our side.”
