Hull need to recharge their batteries ahead of big clash

Hull FC suffered a disappointing 30-14 defeat to Huddersfield Giants on Satuday afternoon, with the squad now given planned annual leave from Sunday to Sunday ahead of their next game against Salford Red Devils on August 10. Here is the latest notebook.

- By DAN TOMLINSON

Time off

Hull FC will now recharge the batteries before they regroup and go again for the final seven rounds of the Super League season.

They have a week off and then a week's training before hosting the Red Devils - a game they simply have to win.

After the Huddersfield loss, they are now one point behind Wakefield in seventh place, with the race for the playoffs set to go down to the wire.

Meanwhile, Hull are expected to be boosted by the likes of John Asiata and Will Pryce, who will be looking to return to action after overcoming hamstring injuries.

"We could do (get players back)," Cartwright told the Mail. "There's a couple of boys pencilled in to come back. It will depend on how we get through the next couple of weeks."

And speaking of returns Liam Watts made his long-anticipated comeback against Huddersfield.

The prop featured off the bench after missing the last four months with calf and knee issues.