Hull City’s Will Keane ruled out for season with cruciate ligament damage
Tigers new boy will have an operation on his knee in cruel blow just ten weeks after leaving Manchester United
HULL striker Will Keane will miss the rest of the season with a cruciate ligament injury.
Scans revealed the England youth international needs surgery to repair the damage.
Keane, 23, only joined the Tigers 10 weeks ago after failing to break into the Manchester United first team.
The hitman went off injured after 26 minutes in the 2-1 win over Southampton - his sixth game for Hull.
He twisted his knee trying to pressure the Saints defence and immediately called for medical help.
Hopes were raised when Keane limped away from the KCOM Stadium in a knee brace.
But after the swelling went down, Mike Phelan's worst fears were confirmed in tests.
After the game, he said: "He's always shown real endeavour and potential.
"When he's got himself to that point when he's firing and got himself ready, he's suffered a blow again.
"This is another one of those. Sometimes players can handle that because they've been through it before and I'm sure he will."
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Fellow striker Abel Hernandez is also facing three weeks on the sidelines with a groin injury to give Phelan a major headache.
Although Diomande will return from suspension in time to face West Brom next weekend, with Dieumerci Mbokani the only option for the game against Sunderland.