Injured Herbie Kane leaves Hull City to re-join to Liverpool, but Tigers hope he will return next term

Herbie Kane may have played his last game in a Hull City shirt this term, but Tigers head coach Grant McCann remains hopeful that the midfielder will return to the club next season.
Herbie Kane scores from a free-kick to put Hull City 3-2 up against Birmingham. Picture: Getty ImagesHerbie Kane scores from a free-kick to put Hull City 3-2 up against Birmingham. Picture: Getty Images
Herbie Kane scores from a free-kick to put Hull City 3-2 up against Birmingham. Picture: Getty Images

The on-loan Liverpool midfielder will head back to his parent club after it was discovered that the hamstring injury he sustained in last week's win over Middlesbrough is actually more severe than first thought.

Scans have shown that the 21-year-old has torn a tendon in his hamstring, ruling him out for the remainder of 2019/20.

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But McCann, who also signed Kane on loan at previous club Doncaster Rovers, has already seen enough to convince him that the Reds prospect is a player who he'd like to bring back to the KCOM next term.

"We’d love to have him back with us next season,” the Hull head coach revealed following Sunday's 4-2 Championship defeat at West Bromwich Albion.

“There’s no point hiding that. He’s everything that we need and everything that I like in a player – with his energy and bravery.

“He can score goals and he’s calm on the ball as well. We’d love to keep him here next year – and possibly longer if we could.”

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Kane's second injury since joining City in January comes at a particularly bad time for both player and club.

Following a fairly unspectacular start to his spell in East Yorkshire, the central midfielder was just beginning to flourish.

He was Hull's star performer in last weekend's 3-3 draw at Birmingham, capping an impressive all-round display with a cleverly-executed free-kick strike.

Kane followed that up with another set-piece goal in the Tigers' next match, a 2-1 win over Middlesbrough, but limped off injured shortly after drawing his side level.

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His calmness in possession, set-piece accuracy and goal-threat would all doubtless have been invaluable for McCann's side as they battle relegation to League One, but now they must make do without him.

And, the confirmation that Kane will not feature again this term will have come as even more of a blow to the City chief, given that he withdrew the midfielder from the Boro clash as a precautionary measure, thinking that they had "caught it early" enough to prevent any serious damage to the muscle.

"He’s torn a tendon in his hamstring, which we were really surprised about because Herbie himself thought he was okay when he came back into the training ground," McCann added.

“But, looking at the scan, it’s not a nice one for him. We’re gutted for Herbie because he’s had no luck whatsoever since coming here.

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“He picked up the injury in training when no-one was near him before lockdown and now he’s pulled a hamstring.

"I didn’t think he was quick enough to pull a hamstring, but he obviously is. In all seriousness, it’s not good news for us or Herbie and we wish him a speedy recovery."

Hull return to Championship action on Wednesday when they visit Bristol City, 6pm kick-off.

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