Football
Richard Jolly, ESPN.com writer 10y

Chester doubt for FA Cup final

Hull City fear defender James Chester will miss the FA Cup final against Arsenal because of a hamstring injury.

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The centre-back, who was out for almost three months last year with another hamstring problem, was forced to come off in Saturday's 3-1 defeat to Aston Villa.

And while he is waiting for the results of medical examinations, manager Steve Bruce seems resigned to being without the former Manchester United player.

"The earliest reports on James look as if the hamstring that he's come off with, he's re-injured it. It looks bleak for the lad," said Bruce in a news conference.

"We can't say until we scan him and know the extent but it doesn't look very good for him."

Chester was replaced by Alex Bruce, the son of the Hull manager, at Villa Park and his absence could allow the former Birmingham, Ipswich and Leeds defender to line up alongside first-choice centre-back Curtis Davies at Wembley.

Forward Sone Aluko is also a doubt for the May 17 meeting with Arsenal and is certain to miss Hull's midweek trip to Old Trafford.

Bruce added: "Sone won't be available on Tuesday. It's touch and go for the cup final, I'd have thought."

Hull will definitely be without strikers Shane Long and Nikica Jelavic against Arsenal as both are cup-tied.

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