The City boss may have his options further reduced if illness worries doesn’t ease
Hull City will welcome back Mohamed Belloumi to their squad on Saturday when the Tigers host Blackburn Rovers, looking for a second straight home victory in the fledgling Championship campaign.
While Belloumi being back and available off the bench following nine months out with an ACL injury is naturally great news, elsewhere, it’s a little less positive for City head coach Sergej Jakirovic with his absentee list beginning to mount barey two weeks into the new campaign.
A bout of illness has been sweeping through the camp, which has made preparations difficult for the Bosnian, with the Tigers supremo not yet entirely sure who will be fit enough to play in the 12:30pm kick-off.
Add to that Matt Crooks and Akin Famewo, who are both also unavailable, and it’s easy to see why Jakirovic has a dilemma or two ahead of the penultimate outing before the first international break of the season.
Crooks took a heavy kick to his ankle in the second half of the win over Oxford United and left the MKM Stadium with his foot in a protective boot, while Famewo was hurt in training on Wednesday.
The pair join Lewie Coyle, Semi Ajayi, youngster Nathan Tinsdale and Enis Destan in missing out against Rovers, but Regan Slater will be pushing for a return to the starting XI in the heart of midfield with Crooks sidelined.
Joel Ndala has been passed fit after he picked up a knock against Gary Rowett’s side, so he’s expected to keep his place on the opposite side of the pitch to Joe Gelhardt, behind Oli McBurnie up front with Kasey Palmer in the number 10 role.
City’s predicted XI: Pandur, Giles, Hughes, Egan, Drameh, Lundstram, Slater, Ndala, Palmer, Gelhardt, McBurnie.
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