Hull City assistant head coach Dean Holden has delivered an encouraging update on the Tigers’ injury situation after their 2-1 friendly victory over Rizespor.
A host of players sat out the victory at Maribor’s Ljudski Vrt Stadium, including Mo Belloumi, but it’s expected the Algerian winger will be back to face Kasimpasa in Istanbul on Saturday.
Belloumi and Darko Gyabi were amongst those who trained on Tuesday morning but were not risked by Sergej Jakirovic in a game where Oli McBurnie and Kieran Dowell scored the two goals to make it successive victories at the start of pre-season.
JOIN US ON FACEBOOK! Latest Hull City news and analysis on our Hull Live FB page
Skipper Lewie Coyle departed the game at half-time with an ankle problem, though that’s not thought to be serious, while winger Abu Kamara also picked up an issue, and again, he’s expected to be involved at the weekend.
Mason Burstow watched from the stands but will not travel to Istanbul with the rest of the squad on Wednesday, and will instead return to England to complete his loan move to Sheffield Wednesday.
“In terms of getting through it relatively unscathed, obviously, skip came off (Coyle), something he’s been feeling for a while; he picked up a little niggle just before we came away. I think it’s just flared up again, but hopefully something and nothing, and he seems OK,” Holden told Hull Live in Maribor.
“The boys that that that that missed the game, they trained this morning (Tuesday). We felt it was better for them to have a controlled training session this morning as opposed to a game with all the challenges that can bring, and they ticked the box there. We’ll see how they respond in the next 24 hours, but they seem to get through OK.
“It’s Lewie’s ankle, he just felt something before we, before we came away. I’m not sure if he rolled it before we came out from Cottingham. I think he just felt it was a challenge in the first half, so again, precautionary, no point taking any risks.
“Abu was always going to play 45 minutes. He picked up a little knock but just spoke to him briefly in the dressing room, said he seems OK.
“He (Darko Gyabi) got a knock, he didn’t feel it particularly at the time, but he got a knock right in the bottom of his hamstring behind his knee (on Saturday), and he was a little bit sore for 24 hours. Darko, being Darko, wanted to give it a go tonight, but as I say, the staff just made the decision that it was best for him to still get a real physical workout.
“It was a tough session this morning for the five lads that trained, but as I say, it’s all very, very controlled. He’ll certainly come into the thinking for the Kasimpasa game.”
Matty Jacob was also missing, watching on from the stands with Belloumi, Matt Targett, Charlie Hughes and new arrival Hidemasa Morita, as well as Tyrell Sellars-Fleming and Burstow.
“Right at the end of the first half (on Saturday), if you remember, he (Jacob) went for the header, and he nearly scored with the header. He just felt something in his hip. We’re just still trying to get to the bottom of that. He’s a little bit sore, so we’ll see how he is in the next few days.”
The update on Belloumi was positive, with fans understandably concerned about his prognosis, having felt his hamstring again, which led to him not featuring last weekend.
“Mo’s trained today (Tuesday), he literally just felt as well as he was about to finish the warm-up at half-time the other night. He was going to come on at 60 minutes, so they warmed up at half-time. He just felt a little bit of stiffness, a bit of tightness in his hamstring. With his history, at the stage of pre-season that we’re at, it’s ridiculous to take any type of risk on it. He’s trained, really, really well this morning.”
On the performance, Holden felt Rizespor gave the Tigers a real challenge on the night, and made them work for their victory in the latter stages after they pulled one back.
“They’re a good team. They certainly did (give us a test). Our possession structure was tested, particularly in that first half,” Holden explained.
“They had so much speed on that last line looking to run in behind you at every opportunity, and the goalkeeper probably could play as a number six, he was that good on the ball, so we didn’t quite get the press right in the first half. Sergej put it right at half-time, and we came out in the in that first 15 minutes re-energised. All in all, a really pleasing night actually.”
Hull Live will be the only English media with City during every step of their pre-season tour, and you can follow all our updates in print and online.
We remain dedicated to bringing you the best Hull City coverage and analysis. Make sure you don’t miss out on the latest City news from inside their training camp 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 latest tour updates.