Jinxed Dundee United striker Francisco Sandaza will miss the first month of the new season after injuring his hamstring against Livingston.
A scan has shown the damage to be less serious than was feared, but the 25-year-old Spaniard still faces around four weeks on the sidelines.
This is the latest in a series of fitness problems to hit the former Valencia B player, who missed almost all of last season with a double hernia and hamstring tear.
Manager Peter Houston said, “Fran has hurt his other hamstring and that’s him out for the start of the season.
“The boy is absolutely distraught because he’s put so much effort into getting to where he is.”
He added, “He overcame all his injury problems last season and spent the whole summer working hard to get his fitness levels up.
“He’s even changed his diet and lost quite a bit of weight so was looking in really good shape.
“It’s just bad luck. He went to backheel the ball and felt it go.”
Houston said, “The one positive is that it’s not the same one as he hurt at the end of last season and already he’s told the physio it’s not as sore as when it happened before.”
Lithuanian trialist Irmantas Zelmikas is set to face Hull on Friday after impressing against Glentoran and Raith Rovers.
Houston said, “Irmantas will play against Hull and that will give me a much clearer idea of what he’s able to do.
“Hull have got some real quality players and, no disrespect to the other teams we’ve played recently, this is a different level to what we’ve seen him at.
“They will be sharp and fit so it’s a good chance to have him tested.”