Operation rules out Raynor

Black and whites winger could be out until April

Last updated: 12th January 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Operation rules out Raynor

Raynor: Sidelined

The ballpark figure is around April time. Whether it is shorter or longer depends on what they do.

Richard Agar
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Hull FC winger Gareth Raynor is set to miss the start of the season following toe surgery.

The 30-year-old was forced to pull out of England's World Cup squad after injections in his problem big toe had allowed him to see out the 2008 season.

While a second operation on Tuesday is expected to repair the problem, Hull head coach Richard Agar admits it could require a long rehabilitation period.

"He has had to wait for the skin on his toe to heal before they can go in again because of the increased risk of infection," Agar said.

"Gareth is in for his toe to be operated Tuesday. After that it depends what the surgeon does or doesn't find before we get some sort of estimate as to how long he is going to be out.

"The ballpark figure is around April time. Whether it is shorter or longer depends on what they do."

Doubts

Raynor will now definitely miss the club's pre-season training camp in Portugal and new signing Dominic Maloney is also a doubt through injury.

The former Dewbury prop is yet to recover from an accident, which left him with a facial wound.

"It was quite a freak accident," Agar continued. "He's nicked a vein in the side of his face that has been bleeding internally.

"They've got to open him up and clip that vein back together. We'll take him if he can fly, if the surgeon says he can't then he too will stay at home."

New signing Michael Crocker is still yet to sort out his visa application issues meanwhile, and Agar has not ruled out adding another face to the KC Stadium squad.

"If we get the right calibre and quality of player available we are in a position to move if we need to, but if not I'm happy we have got a squad that can be more than competitive," he added.

"There is probably a slight imbalance in that we have more forwards compared to backs, but some players are interchangeable.

"Without a doubt we need more depth in the half-back positions and could probably do with an outside back, but I don't think we are in desperate need for them."