The Tigers return to action at QPR on Saturday
Hull City head coach Sergej Jakirovic could soon find himself in a position he’s yet to experience at the MKM Stadium, and that’s having a plethora of options at his disposal.
As City return to training to prepare for Saturday’s trip to QPR, after being given time off during the first half of the final international break of the calendar year, Jakirovic is preparing to welcome back some key figures for their latest assault on the Championship.
It’s expected John Lundstram will be fit and available to be in the travelling party that heads to London on Friday afternoon, having missed the last six games with a calf problem.
His return poses a dilemma in the middle of the park, given the impressive recent form of Regan Slater, who has become one of the first names on the teamsheet.
Amir Hadziahmetovic continues to adapt to life in the Championship, but has been away on international duty with Bosnia and Herzegovina. Darko Gyabi got some valuable minutes for the Under-21s last Tuesday, while Matt Crooks can also operate in that part of the engine room.
Mo Belloumi returned on the bench against Portsmouth but wasn’t risked and has had the benefit of another full week of training, so by the time the weekend comes around, he’ll have had more than two weeks back on the training pitch, and Liam Millar is nearing a return from his own hamstring issues.
While he’s not expected to feature at Loftus Road, or perhaps against Ipswich Town the following Tuesday, Oli McBurnie is closing in on a return. While he’s been out, Joe Gelhardt, Kyle Joseph and Enis Destan have all got themselves on the scoresheet.
Many would have said Joseph drops out to accommodate a front four of Millar, Gelhardt, Belloumi and McBurnie, but his form and importance to the side shouldn’t be underestimated, and is therefore a key asset to Jakirovic.
There was understandable concern when Belloumi, Millar and McBurnie all went down with injury troubles, but the rest of the players have stepped up to the mark and delivered performances and results in their absence.
In fact, such has been the form of others, Jakirovic is under less pressure to bring his key players back as quickly as possible. Had City been operating at the other end of the table, with results not going their way, then the temptation to haul back his key men may have been too strong.
As it is, with 11 games to come over the festive period before the FA Cup weekend in early January, Jakirovic will want to be cautious with his star men.
The Croatian has pencilled in the trip to Millwall on December 13 as a game when he thinks he may have everybody fit and available, aside from Eliot Matazo and Kasey Palmer, who are both sidelined with knee injuries and will likely be sidelined until the New Year.
Jakirovic, as he has done so far, will need everybody in his squad between now and the end of the season, if the Tigers are to reach their ultimate goal, but for now….
Is this City’s strongest XI? Pandur, Giles, Hughes, Ajayi, Coyle, Slater, Lundstram, Millar, Gelhardt, Belloumi, McBurnie?
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