Hull midfielder Ashbee out for nine months

Hull captain Ian Ashbee will be sidelined for nine months after suffering a setback in his recovery from a knee injury.

Ashbee aggravated the long-term problem playing against Aston Villa in a Premier League match in May and missed the final three games of last season.

It had been feared that the 32-year-old may be forced to retire, but he will travel to the United States for surgery next week in the hope of curing the problem.

Tigers boss Phil Brown said: “He has had a setback with regards to his long-term problem, he had an operation on his knee three or four years ago.

“He is flying across to Colorado to undergo that surgery. Hopefully the scenario will be rehabilitation and back within eight or nine months.

“It is a big blow for Ian and a big blow for us, as the club captain.

“We have had long discussions about it. He is in the last year of his contract and has tried desperately to try to get another one.

“In that inimitable fashion of his he is trying to prove people wrong.”

Ashbee, who made 35 appearances last season, has been at Hull since 2002 and has played for the club all four divisions of the English league.