HULL FC prop Liam Watts is set for a further spell on the sidelines after suffering a knee injury in training.
The 34-year-old has only made one appearance since rejoining the club from Castleford Tigers in March, having won two Challenge Cups in a first Hull stint between 2012 and 2018.
Watts was approaching the end of a three-month lay-off with a calf issue, with Sunday’s match against Salford Red Devils identified for a potential return, only to suffer a fresh injury this week which will keep him out long-term.
Hull head coach John Cartwright said: “He’s rolled his knee in training early in the week. He’s had a scan and it’s unfortunate, it’s not a short-term injury.
“It is a major setback. It’s an area of the field in which we’re a bit limited at the moment. He would have played this week had he got through training but he’s had a medial problem with his knee. We’ll know more time-wise a bit later.
”Everyone feels for him and I feel for him, he’s a good lad. He’s got a history at the club and he’s come in this year really wanting to make a difference.
“It’s just been one roadblock after another. He’ll work hard on getting it right and playing a part between now and the end of the year.”
Watts is joined on the sidelines by fellow pack men John Asiata (hamstring), Ligi Sao (knee), Jed Cartwright (hamstring) and Jordan Lane (arm) while fullback Will Pryce also has a hamstring injury.