By IAN JUDSON
HULL FC have confirmed that talismanic fullback Will Pryce suffered a ruptured ACL in the closing minutes of the defeat at Wigan and he will now miss the rest of the season.
Pryce had to be helped off the pitch after an awkward collision with Warriors forward Junior Nsemba and had a scan on Monday morning, although coach John Cartwright said they would just be guessing as to the extent of the injury at his press conference on Monday afternoon.
However, the news that nobody wanted – but everybody suspected – was confirmed on hullfc.com on Monday evening, with the club obviously offering their best wishes to him as he begins the long road to recovery.
Fortunately for the Black and Whites, they have no shortage of options at fullback, including Player of the Year Zak Hardaker who is set to return for Friday’s home game against York Knights, having missed the game at Wigan with an ankle injury.
Beyond Hardaker, Cartwright could also call on Davy Litten who produced a hat-trick and Man of the Match display in the cup-tie at Salford, as well as having academy products Logan Moy and Lloyd Kemp in reserve as well.
Of course moving either Hardaker or Litten to fullback would give another opportunity to new centre Arthur Romano in his preferred position, although he could also potentially deputise in the back row for Joe Batchelor who is, according to the coach, touch and go for this week.
Other options for the boss, should he require somebody else in the back-row would potentially see Connor Bailey facing his former club for the first time since his departure from the LNER Community Stadium.