Masi Matongo is eager to grasp his chance with Hull FC

The young prop has been urged to step up given the East Yorkshire club’s injury issues ahead of tomorrow’s fixture with Wakefield Trinity.

Hull have lost Chris Green to injury and fellow prop Josh Bowden is out for the season meaning Matongo and fellow Academy product Brad Fash are seeing more action.

“I’m really happy just to get more game time,” said the 22-year-old, who was named in the England Knights squad earlier this season.

“It’s always bad when people get injuries but at the same time it does mean I do get more minutes. It helps solidify my spot in the team and I’m enjoying it.

“It’s a big game against Wakefield. Every game is must-win at the moment if we want to get in the top-four at the end.

“Obviously the teams above us are in form and the ones below us are coming good, too. We just have to make sure we win every game we can to get in there.”

Fifth-placed Hull were five points adrift of Warrington Wolves in fourth ahead of this round of fixtures.

They have lost three of their last four games but continue to show flashes of potential.

For instance, Radford’s side troubled leaders St Helens last week before eventually falling away 34-18 in a game that also saw them lose England centre Jake Connor to a season-ending hamstring injury.

Zimbabwe-born Matongo recalled: “I thought we had them at one point; we were 18-10 up in the second half and everything was going our way.

“There was just a few penalties and cheap errors that meant we ended up struggling and we just didn’t hang in enough.

“There’s always times you’re on the back foot and against it but we need to start pushing harder and get through those periods.”

Meanwhile, half-back Marc Sneyd – missing since early May with a knee injury – could return to action if he passes a fitness test today and Joe Westerman is in a similar position.

Winger Fetuli Talanoa is back in the 19-man squad after an ankle injury while Liam Harris and Jez Litten are also added.