The Tigers remain without a host of influential first team players
Hull City will still be without midfield general John Lundstram for Tuesday night’s visit of Ipswich Town to the MKM Stadium despite hopes he would return..
Lundstram has missed the last seven games with a calf injury and it was hoped he would make the bench against the Tractor Boys, but he wasn’t back in training on Monday confirmed assistant boss Dean Holden, who has ruled the player out.
He could still return to full training later in the week and be involved on Saturday when City go to Stoke City in front of the television cameras.
Holden also revealed that star striker Oli McBurnie is still not yet ready to return to full training, so it’s now unlikely he’ll be in the squad that makes the trip to the Potteries this weekend.
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City are now working towards having McBurnie and Liam Millar (hamstring) both available for the visit of Middlesbrough to the MKM Stadium on Friday week.
While news of McBurnie’s extended absence will be frustrating for City supporters, the club are keen to proceed with caution over their influential marksman, especially with so many games coming up during the festive period.
Elsewhere, City will be without the suspended Matt Crooks, with the experienced midfielder forced to sit out Tuesday’s game after collecting his fifth booking in stoppage time of Saturday’s defeat at QPR.
“We got through unscathed in terms of picking up any injuries, which is important with the game coming round so quickly, so it will be a similar squad minus Crooksy,” Holden told Hull Live.
“He’s (McBurnie) got further checks tomorrow, and we’re hoping he’s not too far away now. I think tomorrow (Tuesday) will come too soon, but I don’t think he’s too far away.
“We’re hoping Oli, maybe even Liam (Millar), for the Middlesbrough game. It’s obviously an important period for them now, coming right towards the end of that sort of rehabilitation process. Hopefully, that’ll go smoothly, and they shouldn’t be too far away as well.”
McBurnie was expected back at Norwich but suffered a setback in his recovery, and while December 5 is further away than this weekend, Holden says there has been no further setback for the 29-year-old.
“No, not at all,” he said when asked if there had been another setback. “You never know with Oli, maybe (he could be back sooner). I’m not trying to be too smart. That’s the latest information I’ve had is that we’re looking to Middlesbrough.
“Could it happen quicker? Maybe. Everybody’s different, and as I say, he’s got a few hoops to jump through, so to speak, with his rehab, but once he ticks them boxes, and I’m sure he won’t be too far.”
Crooks’ enforced absence opens up the possibility of Darko Gyabi coming in for a start, or Semi Ajayi in a change of shape from head coach Sergej Jakirovic.
Holden says whoever does take Crooks’ shirt against Town will then have the chance to ensure they keep it for the weekend trip to take on Mark Robins’ high-flying Potters.
“We’ve got options. We’ve got options on the side. Kyle’s (Joseph) been playing off the side with Enis (Destan) down the middle. We’ve got options, of course. Crooksy’s going to be a big miss; he’s a hugely important player for us. What he brings to the team is quite unique, so we’ve got to find a different way. We’ve got players that are training well, that’s a big thing as well. The lads who are training are really competing.
“Good sparring partners are probably the best way of describing it, they’re pushing the lads for those shirts and whoever gets it, I’m sure will be keen to take it.
“This is football. Competition for places. Every dressing room I’ve worked in and played in, certainly you’ve got your mates’ back, you’re a gang, you work hard together, you enjoy it together, but you want the shirt, and that’s what we want from all of our players.
“It’s a message that Sergej spreads a lot; the subs or people call them finishers nowadays, is a great term because it’s not just about how you’re going to start a game.
“You have a certain game plan going into it, you have a certain strategy and but it’s important how you finish the game as well, and the players all know that.
“We’ve got a tight squad, there’s not too many of them who will feel too far away from the squad. I think that’s important as well, they all know that if they perform, they’ll they’ll get the shirt.”
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