 Yeaman has scored 21 tries in 2006 |
Hull centre Kirk Yeaman, the engage Super League's leading try-scorer this year, has been ruled out for up to 12 weeks with ruptured knee ligaments. The in-form 22-year-old, who has scored 21 tries in just 15 League matches, sustained the injury in Hull's 27-26 win at St Helens last Thursday.
The injury is a major setback for Hull and Yeaman, who was in line to win his first Great Britain cap this month.
Hull coach Peter Sharp said: "He's been a bit down. Sport can be cruel."
GB coach Brian Noble names his squad on Wednesday for the XXXX Test against New Zealand on 27 June and Yeaman had been a virtual certainty to make the cut.
Now he could be struggling to regain match fitness in time for the end-of-season Tri-Nations Series in Australia and New Zealand.
Sharp said: "He's ruptured the ligament and there's a small break there as well but it could have been a lot worse.
"He's been a bit down but he's optimistic that he could be back in nine or 10 weeks.
"If we can get him back for the last few games, it would be a nice bonus."
Utility player Richard Whiting is set to replace Yeaman in the Hull team to play Harlequins at the KC Stadium on Friday.
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