The Tigers face a crucial final two weeks of the transfer window
Sergej Jakirovic faces a busy couple of weeks (Image: Mark Kerton/Shutterstock)
Hull City will consider removing Mohamed Belloumi, Eliot Matazo and Darko Gyabi from their squad list this month to enable them to create more flexibility in the transfer market.
Such is the state of City‘s injury troubles, the Tigers were without a host of players on the South Coast on Saturday, but still turned in a terrific away performance to win 2-1.
Sergej Jakirovic’s side welcomed back Matt Crooks and John Lundstram, but also lost Akin Famewo, Lewie Coyle and Kyle Joseph to issues in the game. Semi Ajayi is returning from the Africa Cup of Nations with a suspected calf issue, though Joe Gelhardt could return at Preston North End tonight.
Gyabi was the latest to fall victim to a serious injury barely 10 minutes into last Sunday’s penalty shootout win over Blackburn Rovers, and will now require surgery on a groin problem, which may well end his campaign prematurely.
Belloumi, who has endured a nightmare year of ACL and hamstring issues, was in fine form before going down at Hillsborough on Boxing Day and is now not expected back until after the international break in March, assuming he has no further setbacks.
It had also been hoped Eliot Matazo would return from the ACL injury he suffered at Cardiff City in February towards the end of this month, only for him to have another setback and be sidelined for at least the next month.
The Tigers are looking into the possibility of de-registering those players to help them bring in replacements before the transfer window closes on February 2 at 7pm.
City did similarly in January last season, when they took off Liam Millar and Belloumi from their EFL squad lists following their ACL injuries, which came two weeks apart in October and November.
Sergej Jakirovic’s squad has been hampered by injuries all season, but are working hard to try and bring in cover to bolster the Croatian’s ranks to continue their play-off push.
Yu Hirakawa became the Tigers’ first signing of the January window when he arrived on loan from Bristol City on Monday, and is expected to go straight into the squad for tonight’s meeting with PNE at Deepdale, but Kasey Palmer is not likely to be in the squad amid talks over a loan move to Luton Town, which would free up more space.
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