The in-form marksman watched City’s thumping win against Leicester from a private box
Hull City will continue to assess Oli McBurnie for the next few days after the influential striker was ruled out with a knee injury ahead of Tuesday night’s impressive 2-1 victory over Leicester City.
The influential talisman is a significant doubt for the weekend visit of Charlton Athletic, with the issue that ruled him out of City’s fine win, their third in a row.
Despite not having their leading marksman in the team, City produced a stunning first-half display with Liam Millar and Joe Gelhardt putting them 2-0 up, before Aaron Ramsey’s clever finish ensured a nervy finale, but the Tigers produced a gritty second-half showing to see the game out.
Attention after the game centred around concerns over their star striker, but assistant boss Dean Holden said he will continue to be assessed over the next few days.
“I think he’s found something a little bit on the scan, so, yeah, I think we’ll wait and see,” he told Hull Live. “I spoke to him this afternoon in the training ground. He’s very upbeat about it, and he wants to get out there and stick his boots on again. The medical team might have something different to say on that, so I think we’ll just have to see over the next couple of days.”
McBurnie, who has bagged six goals and four assists in his 10 Championship outings so far, was withdrawn in the second half of Saturday’s 3-2 win at Birmingham City, having teed up Kyle Joseph for the opening goal with some discomfort in the back of his knee and calf.
Initially, it was thought he would be rested against the Foxes and back to feature for Saturday’s visit of Charlton Athletic, but the prognosis is worse than first thought.
Elsewhere, skipper Lewie Coyle sat out the clash with the Foxes, but it’s hoped he will be back and fit for Saturday’s home meeting with Charlton Athletic as the Tigers look to build on what was a terrific victory, their third on the spin in the Championship.
Coyle was on the bench but was unlikely to get on the pitch as he nurses an ankle injury sustained at Birmingham City, while Ryan Giles will be assessed after limping out in the second half against the Foxes.
“It was an outstanding performance, I thought,” Holden said of the performance. “Against a really good opponent, we spoke about pre-match, I think they’re one of the favourites for promotion, and we nullified them tonight. Yes, they’re gonna have chances against you with the quality they’ve got one v one.
“Obviously many changes, I think four changes to the starting 11, but overall it was a great start to the game. What a moment. Anyone who was in the stadium seeing Liam Millar score that goal in his first start just a few days short of a year, I think it’s been, so that really started us off on the front foot.
“We then scored an outstanding second goal. I mean, we have scored some good goals in the last few games, but that was right up there, wasn’t it?
“Quick throw-in, really good interchange and trying to sort of get an action going before the opposition can get set, and it was a good finish from Joff (Gelhardt) again, and he’s exactly where you want him to be inside the post.
“They made changes at half-time, we knew he’d come under it, but the lads that came into the game, we have to give them a lot of credit as well.
“Akin (Famewo) comes in at left back against one of the best wingers in the division (Abdul Fatawu) and, yes, he had a couple of moments which you’d expect, but overall I thought we nullified a really good team. I’m sure our fans are really enjoying coming to our home stadium at the moment, scoring goals, and it’s an exciting affair, isn’t it?”
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