City are on the cusp of signing three new players
Kieran Dowell is joining Hull City from Rangers (Image: PA Archive/PA Images)
Hull City boss Sergej Jakirovic expects to have Kieran Dowell in his squad for Saturday’s home clash with Swansea City in what’s a major boost for the Championship promotion challengers. Dowell was at City’s training ground on Thursday and was put through his paces by the club’s medical staff after travelling down from Scotland to complete the formalities of his move from Rangers, with Hull Live understanding he’ll sign an initial 18-month contract. Assuming the club are given clearance to complete his permanent move to the MKM Stadium from the Ibrox giants, he could be in the squad against the Swans and make his debut off the bench.
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“Kieran Dowell will be our player, so we agreed everything. We’re waiting on papers between two clubs, and if everything is OK, he should be in the squad on Saturday, this is the plan,” the Croatian told Hull Live, before praising the work the club have done in getting him in on a free transfer despite having six months left on his deal north of the border.
“Yes, especially in our situation (good business). Every player that has experience in this league is very important for our group. He’s a good player, a good profile for us, and I hope he can improve our team on this position.”
Elsewhere, Jakirovic confirmed the club are on the cusp of signing ex-Manchester United defender Paddy McNair and current Red Devils youngster Toby Collyer, though neither of those are likely ahead of the weekend.
Both of those players are expected in the squad that heads to Blackburn Rovers next Saturday afternoon looking for a fourth away win on the spin.
“Paddy is in London,” City’s boss said. “Tomorrow he will have a medical check, and then I think from Monday he will be with us here and this is the plan for him. Especially now with Semi’s problem, he will bring also experience. He’s a player who can play in a back four, a back five and maybe in the some situations in the number six role. He has a lot of experience, a good player, good character, and I hope he will help us.
“We will see (on his condition). He’s a professional. He trained one hundred per cent and I think there is no need time for adaptation. It’s just about his fitness condition, but we will see when he comes here.”
“I think everything is good and he (Collyer) will be on Saturday in our stadium to watch the game and then from Monday he will be our player.”
Those new arrivals will further boost Jakirovic’s options at a time when he’s missing key players, but has still managed to oversee an incredible run of form which has the Tigers fourth in the league after successive wins at Southampton and PNE in the past few days.
“Of course (we have more options), especially now when after every game we are losing one or two players for four, five or six weeks. Now we have a wider roster and they are good players It’s not just about that we have bodies. They are good, so they can help us.”
Jakirovic also confirmed there were no fresh injury concerns from the fine win at Preston North End on Tuesday night, though he did confirm Semi Ajayi faces seven weeks out with the injury he sustained in Nigeria’s third-placed win over Egypt at AFCON on Sunday. David Akintola and John Egan left the pitch with cramp, but both are fine and trained normally on Thursday. Kyle Joseph is expected to be back in the squad after recovering from the ankle injury which kept him sidelined in midweek. The Tigers will still be without the injured Ryan Giles, Cody Drameh, Darko Gyabi, Enis Destan, Mo Belloumi and Eliot Matazo, while Kasey Palmer has completed his move to Luton Town. Giles remains on course to return at Ewood Park next weekend.
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