Hull City forward Abel Hernandez ruled out for six months following operation
Hernandez was stretchered off after going down inconspicuously in the second half of Hull's 3-2 defeat to Wolves on Tuesday night.
Initial fears surfaced that the Uruguayan would miss the entire campaign but Hull hope he will return to fitness for the final three months of the season.
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Hide AdHernandez is out of contract at the end of the season, meaning foreign clubs would be allowed to talk to him from January 1 should no new deal be forthcoming.
The 27-year-old scored a hat-trick in Hull's first win back in the Championship last Saturday in the 4-1 win over Burton.
Boss Leonid Slutsky admitted after Hernandez's injury that the Tigers needed to strengthen their attacking ranks.
Hull had a £10 million bid rejected for Cardiff City striker Kenneth Zohore on Wednesday.
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Hide Ad“New players don’t depend on Hernandez, we needed more before,” Slutsky said. “We have a good squad but we need to strengthen.
“I think we need one or two defenders and attackers. We are close, but we are close for one month but it is not easy. If we get a player he must be really good level.”