Butland has sustained a problem in his arm and is expected to require surgery while facing a long absence, potentially heading to the sidelines for the next 12 weeks or even until December. Coach Sergej Jakirovic commented that Butland "has an elbow injury which he picked up in training. He will go to see another specialist, and then we will know more after he's seen this examination. Yes, I am concerned about it.", Barry Cooper of the Hull Daily Mail reported Saturday.
Analysis:Butland had arrived in the summer transfer window as Hull's projected starter in goal, so this issue is a major concern for the club heading into the 2026/27 season. While his timeline hasn't been confirmed, he already missed a friendly game against Eintracht Frankfurt, with Konstantinos Tzolakis getting the nod on that occasion. Assuming the injured player is not available for the initial stages of the EPL campaign, Tzolakis might see a few opportunities in his place, although there's still time for the club to look for another signing.
