The latest Tigers news as the club prepare for their date with Wembley destiny
David Akintola in action during Hull City’s win at Southampton in January(Image: Matt Watson/Southampton FC via Getty Images)
Hull City have requested special dispensation to register David Akintola in time to feature in next Saturday’s Championship play-off final at Wembley.
Akintola has not played since coming off the bench for the final 18 minutes of the 2-1 home win over Swansea City back on January 24, having not been registered following the closure of the winter transfer window.
The popular Nigerian winger has been training daily with the City squad at Cottingham, and has been a cheerleader of Sergej Jakirovic’s side from the stands, but has been unable to play.
City had hoped to have re-registered him earlier in the year after Yu Hirakawa and Toby Collyer picked up serious injuries, though those requests were denied.
Hirakawa has since returned to fitness and was part of Sergej Jakirovic’s squad that beat Millwall over two legs in the play-off semi-final to set up next weekend’s showdown with Southampton, while Collyer could feature after another period out injured, along with Cody Drameh and Amir Hadziahmetovic.
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The Tigers hope to hear back from the EFL in the next 48 hours after requesting Akintola replace Eliot Matazo in the club’s 25-man squad.
Matazo cruelly suffered a second cruciate knee ligament injury in the space of two seasons just a few minutes into his comeback at Charlton Athletic last month, and is facing another long period on the sidelines.
Meanwhile, the club are awaiting further diagnosis surrounding the serious ankle injury sustained by Kyle Joseph at The Den on Monday night. Hull Live understands the initial prognosis on the influential forward is not positive, and it’s likely he will not play a part at Wembley.
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