Hull City defender Charlie Hughes has taken a big step forward in his recovery from an ongoing groin problem, which has kept him sidelined since the first week of pre-season.
Hughes has returned to training in the past few days and will step up his bid to return to fitness by playing for the club’s Under-21s. So far, since returning to training, Hughes has suffered no adverse reaction, which is a major positive, having encountered no shortage of issues over the summer and early weeks of the season.
While the highly-rated defender remains some way away from making his bow in the Premier League, this is a huge step forward for the 23-year-old, who last played a competitive game in the play-off final at Wembley.
Elsewhere, City’s squad for the weekend visit of Ipswich Town to the MKM Stadium will see Nobel Mendy and Jack Butland available.
Mendy has missed the last couple of games with a groin injury, while Butland has been out with an elbow problem he picked up on the day the Tigers flew to Frankfurt for their penultimate friendly of the summer.
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Mohamed-Ali Cho, Lucas Gourna-Douath, and Joe Gelhardt are all pushing for places after playing in the Under-21s 2-2 draw at Manchester United on Monday.
Oli McBurnie has been playing with a broken finger he sustained in the draw with Everton, and then damaged a rib in a challenge with Aaron Hickey on Sunday, which left him coughing up blood at half-time, but he’s trained all week.
So, too, has Lewie Coyle. The skipper left the action on Sunday early with some stiffness in his hamstring, though, like McBurnie, has trained this week and is set to play against the Tractor Boys.
“Everything is good,” the City head coach said. “We tried to recover because this week is a little bit shorter than last week. They are ready, and we are in good shape.
“We have, I think, 27 players in the squad, which is good, and we need to pick the right ones on Saturday.”
On Mendy, who has had a truncated campaign so far, Jakirovic says he knows he must be careful, but is also aware of how influential the Senegal international has been when he’s played. “I will be careful, but also we have to use him, and of course, he has had a concussion, so it’s a bit unlucky he missed this Newcastle game.
“We are trying everything to improve his body, his core, his groin, and also he’s doing a lot of hard work to be better.
“Jack (Butland) is in full training sessions with the group, which is excellent news, and we will see if he’s in the squad. We will decide tomorrow (Friday).
“Charlie is good. He trained yesterday with us, which is a miracle. That went well for him, and there was no reaction, so everything is good. When Charlie is a little more ready, we will play him in the Under-21s. We are going day by day, so we will see when he is able to play.”
There was genuine concern at when Hughes would shake off the problem and be available again, but he’s made terrific progress in the past 10 days or so, and is now able to train.
“Yes, of course (I was really worried about him),” Jakirovic confessed. “Charlie was a first 11 player, so it was a big impact for us to be without him. In December, we will have games every three days, so we need every player.
“Thank God we are healthy in these positions right now, and now with Mendy coming back after being unavailable. We will try to develop him and to improve his fitness with Under-21 games.
“Psychologically and for his confidence, you are now part of the group again, so he is good.”
Striker Ilias Ansah continues his recovery from a back problem and is currently doing individual work on the training pitch, with the manager plotting a path to fitness before the busy Christmas period.
“Ansah is also one more miracle. He’s on the pitch, on the grass, doing individual training, so in five weeks he should join the group.”
Jakirovic says the game at United on Monday was exactly what was needed for those players desperate for minutes, and he will continue to utilise the Under-21 fixtures for the likes of Christos Mouzakitis and Robinio Vaz, especially when games are being hosted at the MKM Stadium.
“I saw that their lack of minutes, their lack of rhythm, it’s about match fitness as well. They need even more than just this game, and we will use the Under-21, especially when they are playing at the MKM Stadium, as a good opportunity.
“It’s also a good environment, so we will use this so that they have minutes. We also have young players, so for them this is an excellent experience.”
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