Injured Jelavic to miss Chelsea clash

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Hull City’s top scorer Nikica Jelavic will miss Sunday’s Premier League game against Chelsea and could be out for the rest of the season because of a knee injury.

The 29-year-old, who has netted eight goals this term, has been struggling with the problem this term and has now had to have surgery.

Tigers boss Steve Bruce said: “We hope, knowing Jela, he’ll do his best to play a part [this season], but if we’re going to be realistic, it could force him out for the rest of the season.

“Since the last operation it was pretty evident that it was still troubling him. It came to a head when he couldn’t really train again last week.”

The Tigers started with Jelavic and January signing Dame N’Doye in a two-man attack against Leicester City last week.

But although record signing Abel Hernandez is an option to replace Jelavic in the same formation, Bruce may well prefer Sone Aluko playing in a wide role in a 4-5-1 system.

Meanwhile, Bruce believes Chelsea’s Champions League exit against Paris St Germain will not affect the chances of manager Jose Mourinho guiding his side to the title.

“Jose has focused his attention straight back on the Premier League,” Bruce said. “They haven’t got that distraction and they are near-on certainties to go on and win the league.

“Chelsea are the team everybody is trying to beat. You can’t see them, five points clear and with a game in hand, blowing the situation. But we need a result ourselves because we’ve got some tough games ahead.”

Hull will also be without suspended midfielder Tom Huddlestone.

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