Tigers hit by double setback as Aluko is ruled out

Star striker Sone Aluko has been ruled out for two months with an Achilles injury, while Sunderland last night recalled winger Ahmed Elmohamady from his season-long loan.

Elmohamady had played an important role in helping Hull into second place in the Championship, and Sunderland manager Martin O’Neill was sufficiently impressed to cut short the arrangement.

The loss of Aluko is signficant, with the Nigerian international having scored eight goals in 24 games this season.

“It’s a huge blow for us,” conceded Hull boss Steve Bruce, whose side travel to Peterborough on Saturday.

“We had him in London with us (for the midweek FA Cup match against Leyton Orient) and he was still troubled by the injury, so we went to see a specialist.

“Unfortunately, it’s been diagnosed as a small tear in his Achilles.

“We’re looking at between six to eight weeks.”

Aluko’s injury originated in November and resurfaced during last Saturday’s 3-1 home defeat to Sheffield Wednesday.

Bruce is confident it will not prove as problematic as the Achilles injury suffered by striker Matty Fryatt, who was ruled out in October for the rest of the season.

“It’s not quite in Matty Fryatt territory but, when it’s an Achilles injury, there’s sometimes nothing worse,” said Bruce.

“We’ve had a couple of them now – Liam Rosenior over the start of pre-season and then, of course, Matty Fryatt, and we’ll just have to cope with it to the best of our ability.”

Bradford City have completed the signing of Kilmarnock centre-back Michael Nelson.

Nelson, 32, has joined for an undisclosed fee, believed to be in the region of £30,000, after penning an 18-month deal.

Nelson helped Kilmarnock win the Scottish League Cup last season and has previously won promotions with Hartlepool United and Norwich City.