Harambee Stars Prospect Nearing Return From Career Threatening Injury Amid Hull City’s Premier League Promotion Push

Matazo, who is eligible to play for Harambee Stars as his mother is Kenyan, has been nursing a nine-month ACL injury just weeks after signing for Hull City.

Hull City have received a significant boost with the news that Harambee Stars Prospect Eliot Matazo is targeting a return to action as early as next month.

The 23-year-old former Monaco player has been sidelined since suffering a serious ACL injury during a defeat to Cardiff City in late February. Following surgery, the initial prognosis suggested he would be out until at least Christmas.

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However, Matazo, who has represented Belgium at U21 level, has set his sights on an ambitious November comeback, a development that would see him back on the pitch ahead of schedule. 

Head coach Sergej Jakirovic, while welcoming the player's optimism, remains more cautious, suggesting a return closer to the original Christmas timeline is more realistic.

"It's going well, and he promised me he will be back in November, but we're looking forward," Jakirovic said to Hull Live.

 "I hope he will be back next month, but my experience with Mo Belloumi and Liam Millar tells me that it will be in December, if everything is good."

‘I Don’t know Why ACL Injuries Are Frequent’

Regardless of the exact date, Matazo's impending return is a timely lift for the club. It would mean all three players who suffered ACL injuries last season—including the already-returned Mo Belloumi and Liam Millar—will be available for selection.

Jakirovic acknowledged the significant impact Matazo can have on the team, a potential he was just beginning to show before his injury in South Wales. However, the manager also stressed the need for caution when dealing with such serious knee injuries.

"Of course, I know that," the Croatian coach said about Matazo’s quality, before expressing concern over the rising number of ACL injuries in modern football.

"Right now, ACL injuries are the biggest problem in football overall," he continued. "A lot of players get this injury, and I don't know why. Maybe because of football boots, because of pitches, because of a lot of games, I don't know."

Matazo’s Kenya Eligibility

Matazo is born to a Kenyan mother and a Congolese father, which makes him legible to also declare for the Central African nation.

However, he has been capped at every youth level by Belgium, his country of birth, and is likely to remain patient for his chance with his country of birth, but the possibility of playing for Kenya would likely be embraced by Benni McCarthy, who is still trying to build a strong team for the 2027 African Cup of Nations on home soil.