The Tigers have been ravaged by injury throughout the season
Darko Gyabi lasted barely ten minutes against Rovers on Sunday(Image: SmartFrame/Pro Sports Images)
It’s been a hugely positive season so far for Hull City, with the Tigers firmly in the race for promotion from the Championship and into the fourth round of the FA Cup for the first time in six years.
Despite their good form since the start of the season, Sergej Jakirovic has been unable to name a fully fit squad from game one to now, with injuries a constant thorn in his side.
Semi Ajayi remains away with Nigeria, who have a semi-final in the Africa Cup of Nations, but his absence adds to a list that grew on Sunday when Darko Gyabi departed the action after just 11 minutes with what looked like a serious groin injury.
While Enis Destan has not featured a huge amount, Brandon Williams is a fringe member of the squad, and Darko Gyabi has been in and out. The other six can be considered first-team starters and would be in Jakirovic’s first XI, if available, which shows just how tough it has been for the Croatian.
Thankfully for Jakirovic, Cody Drameh’s departure in the first half of extra time was down to cramp, and nothing more sinister than that, which will come as a blessing. Matt Crooks is also expected to be fit despite pulling out of the warm-up against Rovers with a hamstring complaint. Incidentally, the influential midfielder is also one booking away from a two-game suspension, which would feel particularly untimely were it to come in the next week.
DON’T MISS THE LATEST 1904 CLUB PODCAST EPISODE
City will return to Championship action at Southampton on Saturday with a list of first-team absentees that is significant, and means Jakirovic will yet again face some tough decisions.
Here’s a look at who is missing and why….
Joe Gelhardt
The striker is expected back next week, after recovering from a calf injury he picked up in the defeat to Middlesbrough at the beginning of last month. Southampton will likely come too soon, but the 10-goal forward is expected to feature either at Preston North End or against Swansea City on Saturday week.
John Lundstram
One of the summer signings has missed most of the season. A calf injury picked up against Sheffield United saw him miss a chunk of games, and he returned at Stoke City for the final 20 minutes at the end of November.
A few days later, he picked up a knee injury in training and has not played since. It was hoped he would be back on Boxing Day at Sheffield Wednesday; however, his knee hasn’t recovered, and he’s still unavailable. Like Gelhardt, Jakirovic hopes the ex-Rangers man could feature next weekend.
Enis Destan
Destan missed the FA Cup shootout win over Blackburn Rovers on Sunday with a knee problem. It’s something he suffered with when he first arrived in the summer.
The Turkish forward has returned to Istanbul to recover, with Jakirovic saying on Sunday that he expected him to be out for around 10 days, which means he’ll miss the games with Southampton and PNE.
Ryan Giles
Arguably one of their biggest losses, Giles limped off at Middlesbrough late last month after just five minutes with a hamstring issue, and he’s another who isn’t too far away from coming back.
Giles, it’s hoped, will be back by the time City round off January with a trip to Ewood Park on the 31st and his return cannot come soon enough.
Eliot Matazo
Out since damaging his ACL at Cardiff City early in 2025, the Belgian midfielder is back on the grass and making good progress in his return.
Matazo is expected back in training towards the end of this month and he could return to first team action early in February. City will want to be cautious with the midfielder, given what’s happened to Mo Belloumi and Liam Millar in their respective returns from serious knee injuries.
Darko Gyabi
The latest addition to the absentee list, Gyabi, went down inside the opening 10 minutes of Sunday’s FA Cup tie with a groin issue. Instantly, you knew it was serious, given he was on his own in the middle of the pitch and the ball was nowhere near him. Immediately, Gyabi had his face in his hands and was consoled by Liam Millar, who knows all too well such feelings.
Gyabi had complained of some issue earlier in the week, but had said he felt fine to play, and there was no hint of what was to follow so early on.
Jakirovic confirmed after the game that Gyabi would be going for a scan, but feared the worst and that could well rule him out for the season, if it’s as bad as feared.
Brandon Williams
Although he’s not featured this season, Williams’ calf injury has been problematic in terms of his own hopes of rebuilding his career at City, or elsewhere.
The ex-Manchester United youngster remains on the road back to fitness, and what happens when he does, remains to be seen with an expectation he may look elsewhere for regular football.
Mo Belloumi
One of City’s most potent attacking threats, Belloumi has caught the eye since returning from the hamstring injury that followed his ACL recovery.
After scoring a fine equaliser at Sheffield Wednesday on Boxing Day, the Algerian ace suffered a hamstring injury in the second half and had to come off.
Belloumi has declined surgery, which would have effectively ended his season, in the hope he can return for the final few weeks, but that’s not expected this side of the March international break.
Semi Ajayi
While Semi Ajayi has suffered his fair share of injury troubles in the past 12 months, his absence is down to something entirely more positive. Nigeria have made it through to the Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals, with Ajayi playing a pivotal role. Given the Super Eagles are in the final four, the defender is not expected back until City host Swansea next weekend.
Here at Hull Live , we are dedicated to bringing you the best Hull City coverage and analysis. Make sure you don’t miss out on the latest City news by joining our free WhatsApp group.
You can get all the breaking news and best analysis sent straight to your phone by clicking here to subscribe. You can also subscribe to our free newsletter service.
Click here to be sent all the day’s biggest stories.