Hull City manager "buzzing" as Harambee Stars prospect nears first-team return
Reading Time: 2min | Sat. 07.03.26. | 10:32
The Tigers are reluctant to throw the 24-year-old straight in, opting for a steady build-up through the U21s
Harambee Stars midfield prospect Eliot Matazo has been praised by Hull City manager Sergej Jakirovic, following his return from a lengthy layoff with an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury.
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Matazo, who was born to a Kenyan mother, marked the first steps of his road to recovery on Tuesday, 3 March, when he played 30 minutes in Hull City Under-21s' 3-2 win against Peterborough United.
The appearance was the 24-year-old’s first outing in more than a year, following his injury and knee surgery sustained in Hull City’s defeat at Cardiff City in late February.
The injury occurred less than five weeks after Matazo had joined from French giants AS Monaco, and his ramp up now presents The Tigers with a reason to smile.
“I like Eliot in that he doesn't have fear," Jakirovic told Hull Live after Matazo made his comeback. "He isn't afraid to challenge to go in with the ball if it's a 50/50 challenge.”
The club, in part wary of Matazo’s full recovery, is still expected to build up his minutes through the U21s, with the midfielder hopeful of playing an hour against Sheffield United's Under-21s at the MKM Stadium on Tuesday, 10 March.
Hull City are reluctant to put a timescale on Matazo’s return to the first team, given their past history in seeing both of their players - Liam Miller and Mo Belloumi - suffer hamstring injuries, shortly after recovering from their respective ACL injuries.
It is fair to say his first team manager cannot wait.
"It's good, so everything is going according to plan,” Jakirovic said. “Next Tuesday, he will play against Sheffield United at the MKM Stadium.
"It's the plan to get more minutes, 60 if it's possible, and then we will see, but he's a very good player. I know everything about Elliot, so we are buzzing."
Hull City, in the meantime, come up against Millwall in a pivotal clash at the top-end of the EFL Championship on Saturday, 7 March.