New Hull FC signing Steve Michaels will play no part in the club’s opening friendly matches this weekend against Doncaster and York.
The games – which have effectively become a double header after the York fixture was forced to be moved from Bootham Crescent – are coach Lee Radford’s first opportunities to see his squad in action ahead of the 2015 season.
But Michaels, a recent recruit from Gold Coast Titans, will play no part in the matches after being struck down with an infection.
The 27-year-old winger has only been in full training since Christmas, and the news is a further blow to his chances of forcing his way into Radford’s thinking ahead of the new season kicking off in February.
He should, however, be fit to make his debut against local rivals Hull KR next Sunday (January 18).
