Harambee Stars prospect Matazo suffers potential season-ending setback in England
Reading Time: 3min | Wed. 18.03.26. | 18:12
The former Monaco man, born in Belgium, is eligible for the Harambee Stars through his Kenyan mom,
Hull City midfielder Eliot Matazo is now facing the real possibility of missing the remainder of the season after suffering a fresh quad injury, dealing a major blow to what had been a carefully managed return from a long-term knee problem.
The 24-year-old, who is eligible to represent Harambee Stars, had only just begun his comeback after spending over a year out with a serious ACL injury sustained last February.
However, his progress has been halted again after he felt discomfort in his quadriceps during the warm-up ahead of Hull’s Under-21 clash against Sheffield United last week, which ended in a 2-2 draw.
Matazo had been named in the starting lineup for that game and was expected to feature for about an hour, in what was seen as a key step toward first-team reintegration.
Instead, he was withdrawn before kickoff, with the club opting not to take any risks given his recent injury history.
Hull City manager Sergej Jakirovic has since confirmed the setback could keep Matazo sidelined for another three to four weeks, effectively putting the rest of his season in doubt.
“Our target is that he’s completely ready for preseason," Jakirovic told BBC Radio Humberside. “We will see. If there is any chance to play, we can do that but first of all, he must be healthy.”
The midfielder had only returned to action recently, featuring for 30 minutes in a development fixture at Peterborough, before earning a place on the bench for the senior side against Millwall, although he did not get on the pitch.
The Under-21 match was intended to build his match fitness further, with plans to gradually increase his minutes ahead of a possible return to the first team.
Last week, Jakirovic had indicated the club would assess Matazo after the late withdrawal, explaining the decision was precautionary pending medical evaluation.
“He felt his quadriceps during the warm-up. We decided that it’s better not to play, and then after the medical check tomorrow, we will see if it’s damaged or just a reaction,” he said.
The latest setback is a frustrating one for both player and club, especially after earlier optimism surrounding his return.
Just two weeks ago, Jakirovic had praised Matazo’s mentality and fearless style, emphasizing that the club would ease him back into action step by step.
“I like Eliot because he has no fear. He isn’t afraid to challenge or go in with the ball, even in a 50/50 situation,” he said. “Everything is going according to plan. The aim was to give him more minutes and build him up step by step. He’s a very good player, and we are buzzing to have him back.”
The former Monaco man, born in Belgium, is eligible for the Harambee Stars through his Kenyan mom, and he is among the players coach Benni McCarthy is eyeing for AFCON 2027.
