Hull City left reeling after Mohamed Belloumi injury bombshell on the eve of pivotal WBA duel

Hull City have been rocked by another major blow in a season that is threatening to unravel just 14 games in.

Mohamed Belloumi ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in his knee late on in Tuesday night’s 1-0 defeat at Oxford United and will be sidelined for the rest of the season after scans confirmed the news the club were expecting.

In a devastating twist of fate, Belloumi joins City's fellow summer signing Liam Millar in the treatment room, who suffered the same injury last month against Burnley. Like the Algerian youngster, Millar will not play again this season.

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The news has come as a hammer blow to the 22-year-old, boss Tim Walter and the Tigers dressing room, who are reeling from the prognosis.

"Hull City can confirm that winger Mohamed Belloumi has suffered an injury to his anterior cruciate ligament, sustained during Tuesday night’s fixture with Oxford United and as such is likely to miss the remainder of the season," the club said in a statement on Friday afternoon.

"The 22-year-old has made 10 appearances for the Tigers, scoring a brace in our 4-1 win over Cardiff City in September. Belloumi will be supported by the club’s medical department to work through his rehabilitation phase. All at the club sends Mohamed their best wishes and we will continue to support him throughout his recovery."

Belloumi has been a shining light in what has been a difficult start to the season for City and their under-fire manager, Walter, who was jeered and heckled by the away supporters at the Kassam Stadium before being booed off the pitch following a damaging loss.

City’s flying winger was the best player on the pitch on Tuesday night by some distance, creating two good chances for Kasey Palmer and Xavier Simons before hitting the post himself in a dominant first half.

Disaster struck eight minutes from time for Belloumi, who was hurt in a challenge just outside the Oxford box and had to limp off after a spell of treatment. Despite trying to run off the problem he initially thought he had, the youngster had to come off and was replaced by Will Jarvis.

Losing their two high-profile summer wingers leaves City increasingly light in wide areas. The pressure is now on youngster Abu Kamara, who is set to return from injury against West Brom on Sunday, unproven Jarvis and Ryan Longman and Dogukan Sinik, both of whom who stepped up their recovery from injury by playing in the Under-21s' 3-1 loss against Sheffield United on Tuesday afternoon, with Longman in the squad to face the Baggies on Sunday.

Belloumi joins Millar, Steven Alzate, Carl Rushworth and Marvin Mehlem who are all sidelined, though the final three are expected back after the upcoming break, while Oscar Zambrano is facing a long suspension, pending an appeal.