Hull City head coach Sergej Jakirovic has urged his players to grasp their chance when it comes their way in the Premier League this season.
City’s boss has a near-fully fit squad to pick from, with only Charlie Hughes, Elias Ansah and Eliot Matazo unavailable at the moment, meaning last weekend he had 27 players to pick from, and he can only select 20 in a matchday squad, which leaves more than half a team sat in the stands.
Jakirovic left Sorba Thomas and Robinio Vaz out of the squad which drew 2-2 against Ipswich Town on Saturday, citing a need for some of his players to perform better in training.
Vaz was one of the first team squad members who played in the 1-0 win against Derby County’s Under-21s on Monday night, along with Jack Butland, Oscar Zambrano, Darko Gyabi, Christos Mouzakitis, Paddy McNair and Jens Hjerto-Dahl.
While Jakirovic said that Vaz had a difficult pre-season and was working on his fitness, Thomas had featured regularly following his deadline day move from Championship side Stoke City, but has found himself out of the team, with the Croatian calling for an improvement.
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Thomas will hope to have done enough in training this week to be back in the squad for the weekend trip to face champions Arsenal at the Emirates.
Understandably, players not involved in a matchday can become frustrated. Ego can play a huge part, but Jakirovic says his players know the situation, and it’s up to them to perform.
“We have good options from the start, and we have good options from the bench, so everything is good,” he said, before being asked about trying to keep players happy.
“This is their problem if we are speaking about egos,” he then told Hull Live. “They know everything, how they need to behave, how you need to work, and then you have to be ready for your chance because their chance will come, one hundred per cent.
“The chance is also when you’re coming from the bench; it’s a very good chance. If you play 45, 30 minutes, 20 minutes. If you are a striker or a winger, you can change everything in 10 minutes; it’s enough.
“In that time, you can decide the game. Every time you step on the pitch, you are there by yourself. No one can help you. You have to show your quality.”
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