Ellis close to Hull FC return
Gareth Ellis is edging closer to a return from injury for Hull FC.
Club captain Ellis has been out with injury since July 2015 after snapping his Achilles tendon in a game against local rivals Hull Kingston Rovers.
Injuries have blighted the 34 year-old’s time at the Airlie Birds, with Ellis breaking his foot in the warm-up to his much anticipated debut for Hull in 2013 against Leeds Rhinos.
Whilst Ellis is making great progress as he edges closer to a return, Hull FC head coach Lee Radford is wary of rushing him back in the fear of a reoccurence.
“I’ve never seen a more nervous bloke in my life. Gareth’s saying he’s good to go. It will be round one or two I think,” Radford told The Yorkshire Post.
“He’s participating fully in training now and we’re erring on the side of caution by not playing him on Sunday (in the home friendly against Hull KR).”
Ellis says that although he feels physically ready to play this weekend against Hull KR, he admits that the other aspects to his game may mean he has to wait for his chance to get back into the side.
“I feel like I could play Sunday and it’s not the physical aspect as I must have done a million calf raises,” he said.
“But I just haven’t touched a ball. This has been the first week they’ve let me loose a little back in the team, and, even at my age of 34, that still feels a bit awkward having been out for so long. I think we’ll use the free World Club Challenge weekend (February 19-21) to grab another couple of weeks and then go for the Cas’ game at home.”
Ellis’ return will only bolster the pack that Hull FC have assembled for 2016, with the likes of Frank Pritchard and Scott Taylor moving to the KC Stadium. Ellis wants the club to push themselves to have something to fight for come the Super 8’s, and not to leave themselves with nothing to play for like in 2015.
“That was probably the conversation we had after that last game – we don’t want to be in that situation again,” he said.
“It was no good for anybody and it shows you have to be up there to begin with (after 23 rounds) to have a chance or you’re cut adrift playing for nothing really. It is so important for us to get a good start and be in touch when the Super 8s kick in.”
