City’s injury problems continue to mount
Could John Lundstram return to the starting XI this weekend?(Image: Pro Sports Images)
No fewer than ten first team players could be sidelined this weekend when Hull City host play-off rivals Millwall at the MKM Stadium, after another damaging week.
City have lost as many as four players since their narrow 1-0 loss at Ipswich Town on Tuesday night, with three of those down to injuries and Matt Crooks’ two-game suspension.
Akin Famewo is a certain absentee with a calf problem, while skipper Lewie Coyle and midfield general Amir Hadziahmetovic are also serious doubts. They join the likes of Ryan Giles. Mo Belloumi, Yu Hirakawa, Eliot Matazo and Darko Gyabi are all unavailable for the visit of the Lions.
Toby Collyer is expected back in the squad, which is a positive at least, but it’s at left-back where Sergej Jakirovic faces his biggest decision.
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Coyle operated there at Portman Road in the absence of Ryan Giles, and he was then replaced before half-time by Akin Famewo, but he’s now out too. Matty Jacob is also sidelined with a knee injury, so the manager’s options are increasingly limited.
He could play Cody Drameh on the left side and Paddy McNair at right-back. McNair has covered there on numerous occasions, so it wouldn’t be completely alien to the experienced defender.
Another option, albeit far from ideal, is to go with three central defenders and then have Liam Millar filling in at left wing-back, as he has done on occasions this season. By his own admission, Millar isn’t overly keen on operating there, having done so extensively at Preston North End, but it might be a case of needs must to get through this game and hopefully have Coyle back for Wrexham on Tuesday night.
In the middle of the park, assuming Amir cannot play, Jakirovic could bring back John Lundstram for a start, or draft in Cathal McCarthy.
Against one of the most physical teams in the league, with the most successful crosses into the opposition box, he may opt to go for Lundstram’s experience.
Oli McBurnie and Kyle Joseph were both rested to the bench in midweek, but it’s likely the pair will come straight back into the side this weekend, while Joe Gelhardt is likely to keep his place, despite being hauled off at half-time in midweek with Jakirovic unhappy with his display.
City’s predicted XI: Pandur, Drameh, Egan, Hughes, McNair, Lundstram, Slater, Gelhardt, Millar, Joseph, McBurnie.
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