The Tigers will look to continue their impressive away form at PNE on Tuesday night
Joe Gelhardt is set to make his return from injury(Image: Zach Forster/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Hull City are preparing for the return of leading scorer Joe Gelhardt when they travel to face play-off rivals Preston North End at Deepdale on Tuesday night, and assistant boss Dean Holden can’t wait to welcome him back.
Gelhardt hasn’t played since limping out of the 4-1 home defeat to Middlesbrough at the beginning of December, having notched his tenth goal of a stunning campaign in the second half from the penalty spot.
The 23-year-old has missed the last seven Championship games plus the FA Cup win over Blackburn Rovers, but is expected to feature in the squad at Deepdale, as City look to back up Saturday’s fine win at Southampton and go four points clear of the team directly below them in the top six.
“We’re hoping so. He’s going to train today (Monday). He’s back with the group again, so we’ll see how he comes through training,” Holden told Hull Live on the eve of the trip to Lancashire.
“Of course (it’s a boost), yeah, I mean, his numbers speak for themselves prior to getting injured; it was a massive blow for us when he came out of the team. What he gives you from a numbers point of view, what he gives you in terms of that infectious pitch personality he brings, he’s a winner, he’s a warrior, he’s all those things, he’s got quality. I think we’ve managed to continue our decent run of form without him, and, obviously, delighted to hopefully get him back.”
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City will assess the fitness of striker Kyle Joseph, who hurt his ankle at St Mary’s, along with Akin Famewo, who felt his hamstring, but Lewie Coyle is expected to be okay, having left the St Mary’s pitch with cramp.
“They’re just being monitored at the minute,” he continued. “We’re going to be training this afternoon (Monday), so we’ll have a little count up and see what we’ve got.
“Akin was feeling just a tightness in his quad towards the end of the first half. It’s from a previous injury before he came to the club, so not something he felt he could continue to push in that second half.
“Lewie’s was just some cramp in the hamstring, and Kyle rolled his ankle in that first half. He always does (gets a lot of kicks). He gives it and takes it, doesn’t he?
“He (Joseph) just felt the roll in the ankle. I was actually surprised he kept going for as long as he did. He looked like he was struggling at one point, but as he always does, he put his body on the line and got himself another goal as well. It was a great finish.
“We listen to what the players are telling us as well, and I think with Kyle, it’s slightly different from the others. Just with the rolling of an ankle, it’s how swollen it is, you don’t know how painful it is, you just have to maybe be a little bit more careful.”
Despite worries that John Lundstram and Matt Crooks wouldn’t be fit, both played their part on the South Coast. Lundstram, especially, after missing all of December with a knee problem.
“Yeah, fine,” Holden said of Lundstram coming through without any issues. “Delighted to have him back in amongst it. You could see his face after the game. He really enjoyed that battle in that second half, so really happy to have him back.
“Crooks fine, yeah, no problem. Well, he’s one of a number of, isn’t he? He had that issue, didn’t he, earlier in the season with his ribs and was he going to have to have an operation? It’s that long ago and he’s played that many games, maybe people have forgot about it. He’s soldiering on for the team, and he tells you about it as well, by the way.”
The Tigers will also take a look at Semi Ajayi when he returns from international duty with Nigeria at the Africa Cup of Nations. Ajayi limped out of the third-placed win over Egypt, but it’s hoped that the issue is not serious and he will be fit to be involved against Swansea City on Saturday.
“As a club, really happy, well, happy, gutted that he didn’t quite manage to see it over the line, but very proud of him. He’s gone away and represented his country and he’s very proud of that himself, I’m sure are his family.
“He just felt a little bit of cramp in his hamstring, so that was precautionary. You’re watching it, getting a little bit worried, he’ll be having some tests today and tomorrow, I’m sure, and then we’ll see how he is, hopefully he’s OK.”
City will still be without Ryan Giles, Mo Belloumi, Eliot Matazo, Enis Destan and Darko Gyabi, though there may yet be a new addition with the club hoping to conclude a deal for Yu Hirakawa in time to face North End.
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