Hull City will have to take on Leeds United without the services of Liam Delap when they visit Elland Road next Monday. Delap played a pivotal role for the Tigers in the first half of the Championship season, netting seven goals and contributing significantly to Liam Rosenior’s team’s push towards the playoff spots.

Since sustaining a knee injury in January, the Manchester City loanee has been absent from the Hull squad. His absence has been deeply felt by the East Yorkshire outfit, who are currently on a four-game winless streak and are trailing three points behind the top six. However, there is optimism that Delap might make a return sooner rather than later as Hull aims to regain form in their remaining nine matches.

Although there are positive signs regarding his recovery, it appears that the trip to Leeds on Easter Monday will come too early for the talented England U21 international. Rosenior has confirmed that Delap will likely not be ready until after the Leeds clash, with the forward having also missed the team’s training camp in Turkey.

Rosenior provided an update on Delap’s injury progress, stating, “All the reports I’m receiving indicate that he’s progressing well and exceeding expectations. We are hoping to have him back, I would estimate, by mid-April – in a couple of weeks.”

He continued, emphasizing the collaborative effort with Manchester City to ensure Delap’s full recovery and readiness: “When he returns, Manchester City will ensure that he is in peak condition before rejoining the team and heading into full training. This approach will make him akin to a new signing for us, as he has been sorely missed.”

Hull will first meet Stoke City at the MKM Stadium on Good Friday before their trip to Leeds, with the hope of avoiding any further significant injury setbacks.