Kelly a doubt for KR’s derby date with Hull

Hull KR‘s talismanic scrum-half Albert Kelly could be struggling to play in Friday’s derby clash with Hull FC at the KC Lightstream Stadium.

The Australian playmaker sustained a medial ligament strain in Sunday’s defeat at Salford, and carried it throughout much of the match.

Now he is fighting to be fit for one of the biggest Hull derbies for years.

“Albert played on one leg in that second half (at Salford). We’re hoping it’s just a medial strain and it’s nothing too serious,” Rovers head coach Chris Chester told the Hull Daily Mail.

“Albert wears his heart on his sleeve. I thought he played very well (against Salford) and we needed another 16 Albert Kelly‘s out there.”

Graeme Horne missed the game at Salford with an ankle injury. Both he and Greg Burke are rated 50-50 by Chester for the derby.

James Greenwood has also been wearing a protective boot, after injuring his ankle on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Rovers winger Josh Mantellato knows that the Robins must strain every sinew to beat the Airlie Birds on Friday.

“It’s all hands on deck. We need to give it everything we have got. It’s sudden-death football now,” he said.

“Hull derbies are massive. There is enough emphasis on those games already as it is but there is a little bit more riding on Friday’s match because we lost at Salford.

“We need to repay the fans. We win, and there’s still a chance we can make the Super 8s. If we don’t, then that’s it.

“No-one really said anything after the game, the players just let the coach have his say.

“We’re all disappointed with our efforts and all of the pressure is on us for the last two games.”