Need to know
The latest squad news from the MKM Stadium on the eve of a big showdown between two play-off rivals
Hull City’s Lewie Coyle(Image: PA)
Hull City’s list of absentees has grown again since Tuesday night’s narrow 1-0 defeat at promotion rivals Ipswich Town, with as many as four players now unlikely to play against Millwall on Saturday.
It’s been a recurring theme throughout the season that Sergej Jakirovic has been forced to contend with a continual flow of injuries, and the situation just is not easing for the City supremo.
No sooner do they get Semi Ajayi, Matt Crooks and Toby Collyer back, other key players are struck down with problems that see them sidelined for a prolonged period of time.
Here’s a round-up of those doubts and confirmed absentees for Saturday’s early kick-off against the Lions…
Lewie Coyle
The City skipper was hurt in a challenge at Portman Road and was taken off before half-time. He hobbled down the touchline with ice strapped to his right ankle and is unlikely to feature this weekend. Whether or not he can recover in time to be in the squad at Wrexham on Tuesday remains to be seen.
Akin Famewo
The defender replaced Coyle on Tuesday night, but has since gone down with a problem of his own. MRI scans on Wednesday revealed damage to his calf, which is likely to keep him out for the next month.
Amir Hadziahmetovic
Another one, like Coyle, who saw his ankle hurt in a rash challenge on Tuesday night, and one Jakirovic felt was worthy of a yellow card at the very least, if not more. He faces a race against time to be fit to play on Saturday, and is a serious doubt at this stage.
Matt Crooks
The influential playmaker had only just returned from a month out with a hamstring injury to score the winner off the bench at Portsmouth last week. Unfortunately, he’s been walking a disciplinary tightrope for a while now, and finally picked up his 10th booking of the season in Suffolk. He’ll miss Milwall and Wrexham before returning at West Brom next Saturday.
Mo Belloumi
The influential winger is back in full training, which is a major positive for the Tigers, but Sergej Jakirovic will want to proceed with extreme caution, given he’s already faced two hamstring injuries this season since coming back from his ACL troubles.
Having him back in full training is a major boost, so now it’s just a case of picking the right moment to include him in a squad and get him on the pitch.
Eliot Matazo
While City were preparing for Tuesday night’s game at Portman Road, Matazo was making his comeback at Peterborough United’s training ground for the Tigers’ Under-21s. For the first time in a year, the Belgian got a run-out and played 30 minutes. He’ll hopefully step that up to an hour on Tuesday when Sheffield United’s Under-21s visit the MKM Stadium.
Darko Gyabi
One of City’s summer arrivals, Gyabi had impressed in the weeks before he sustained a groin injury in the New Year’s Day defeat to Stoke City, scoring the winning goal at Middlesbrough in the days before. Boss Jakirovic has revealed he’s back on the grass with the medical staff, albeit some way off a training return.
Yu Hirakawa
On loan from Bristol City, the Japan international had become an instant favourite on the terraces with a stunning assist for Joe Gelhardt’s goal against QPR. Later in that game, the winger sustained a damaged ankle, and discussions remain ongoing about whether or not he’ll go under the knife. That could yet rule him out of this summer’s World Cup in North America.
Ryan Giles
Giles pulled up with a hamstring problem early on in the second half of the 4-2 win over Derby County. The full-back had only recently returned from five weeks on the sidelines with the hamstring injury to the opposite leg he sustained at Boro. Giles is likely to be sidelined for around eight weeks.
Matty Jacob
It’s been another injury-hit campaign for the left-back, which started at Reading. After coming back into the fold at City during Giles’ initial absence, Jacob has himself been hit by an MCL injury to his knee, and is facing a period of time out of action which could be as long as two months.
Harvey Cartwright
The young goalkeeper continues to be hit by problems after sustaining a thigh injury during an impressive loan spell in the National League with Hartlepool, and remains on the comeback trail.
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