Hull FC given injury hope as key pair edge towards return

Simon Grix has high hopes of being able to welcome Jed Cartwright and Herman Ese’ese back into Hull FC contention next week.

Ese’ese dropped out of the fold on Saturday through injury as Hull slumped to a 46-6 loss to St Helens despite being initially named in the 21-man squad.

The prop has been a key figure for the Black and Whites in what has been a difficult campaign and his fitness would certainly come as a boost when Hull travel to Leigh Leopards next weekend. As would the fitness of Cartwright, who is yet to make his Hull debut after injuring his foot shortly after his arrival from Newcastle Knights in June.

The back-rower will be keen to impress over the final few weeks of the season, though, as he prepares to welcome his father, John, to the club as head coach in the off-season. Hull will have their work cut out against Leigh, who have now won four on the bounce, but Grix will have his fingers crossed for an injury boost.

“Herman has an outside chance and Jed, outside chance,” the Hull FC interim boss said after the loss to Saints. “Other than that, I think there’s obviously (Jack) Charles who can come back into contention and a few of the other young blokes but no injury returns.”

The Black and Whites were handed two more concerns on Saturday as both Matty Laidlaw and Ed Chamberlain failed head injury assessments during Saturday’s game.

“They looked alright,” he added when asked about their condition. “They’re obviously a little bit rattled and disappointed. That’s the game unfortunately. There’s plenty of bits and bobs but I don’t think there’s anything to write home about.”