The Tigers boss was his typical humouerous self ahead of Saturday’s pre-Christmas showdown with the Baggies
Sergej Jakirovic admits he’s relieved his players all returned from their Christmas party in Dublin ‘alive’ as he targets a third straight win with Hull City.
Members of the City squad headed off to the Irish capital straight after last Saturday’s thumping 3-1 win at play-off rivals Millwall for a two-day party, before returning to training on Tuesday.
Jakirovic says spirits in the camp are high after successive wins moved the Tigers back into the top six, with his squad likely to be boosted by the return of Enis Destan and Kasey Palmer this weekend.
Palmer has not featured since before his controversial omission from the City squad that beat Sheffield United back in September, after he then sustained a knee injury on international duty with Jamaica, while Destan has missed the last two games with a hip problem.
Having the playmaker back in the squad will provide Jakirovic with another attacking off the bench, with Palmer likely to join Oli McBurnie in starting on the bench against the Baggies, who are managed by former Tigers ace Ryan Mason.
Elsewhere, City will be without leading marksman Joe Gelhardt, John Lundstram and Eliot Matazo. Lundstram continues to make good progress in his recovery from a knee injury and it’s expected he will return to training next week ahead of the Boxing Day trip to stricken Yorkshire rivals Sheffield Wednesday. Semi Ajayi has headed off to AFCON and Brandon Williams (calf) will also not be involved.
“I’m very satisfied. They came back alive,” the Croatian joked in conversation with Hull Live. “So, yes, I’m very satisfied. Tuesday we had a very, very good session. I really enjoyed that and, maybe for the future we can let them go even more often. They spent two good nights in Dublin. No injuries, nothing, they came back alive and eveything is perfect!”
Jakirovic’s casual attire at The Den generated plenty of admiration among Tigers fans, with his jeans and white trainer combination, and those supporters will be pleased to know he enjoyed his Saturday evening in the capital, especially having suggested he tweaked a hamstring in the celebrations following that impressive win in a nod to the club’s injury issues this term.
“It’s good,” he laughed, speaking of his hamstring. “We spent Saturday night in London. It was my first time there and it was a great experience. It was a very nice moment for me. We went everywhere in the centre, and it was amazing.”
On the squad status, Jakirovic is pleased to have Palmer and Destan back, and says Gelhardt should be back in time to feature at Southampton on January 17.
“Everything is OK. Enis Destan started to train with the group, so he will be in the squad. Kasey Palmer is back with the group, so we will see about him because he’s been without football for two months,” he continued, before confirming the 28-year-old was back slightly ahead of schedule. “Yes, I think even maybe one week earlier. I need to check, but he’s done everything by the plan. Now we have now very good options on every position.
“We are aiming next week for Sheffield Wednesday, so we will see. Everything so far has been by the plan,” he said of midfielder Lundstram.”
Top marksman Gelhardt, who tore his calf in the defeat to Boro earlier this month, continues his rehab but remains out until towards the second half of next month.
“He’s good,” Jakirovic said of the Leeds United loanee. “When you ask him ‘How are you’, he’s fine with no pain or nothing. He’s on therapy, individual training, and everything is by the plan. I think, after January 15 he will be back.”
City fans will also have to be patient before Matazo returns from his ACL injury. The ex-Monaco midfielder suffered a setback in his recovery but is making good progress again. “He started to run again and he’s feeling fine. Maybe today, he ran 3k, so it’s OK,” added the Tigers boss.
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