Need to know
The Tigers continue to be without a flurry of key players
Charlie Hughes was sent off at West Brom last weekend (Image: Stuart Leggett/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Hull City will be without a host of players once again when they host bottom-side Sheffield Wednesday at the MKM Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The Tigers will be desperate for a victory as they look to respond to last Saturday’s dismal showing at West Brom, when they were beaten 3-0 in the Black Country.
City‘s afternoon at The Hawthorns began badly and got gradually worse when Josh Maja scored the opener before Charlie Hughes was sent off and Lewie Coyle limped off with an ankle injury.
In their final outing before the international break, though, Sergej Jakirovic’s side will expect to claim a 10th home win of the season, and get back into some form ahead of the crucial Easter weekend.
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Charlie Hughes
The defender was sent off at West Brom last weekend and serves a one-match suspension for that red card. City did appeal, but it was thrown out by the FA. He returns for the trip to Oxford United on Good Friday.
Lewie Coyle
City’s skipper damaged his ankle in the defeat at Ipswich Town but played a few days later against Millwall. He took another hefty blow to it at West Brom last weekend and sits this one out. There was a worry that there could be more damage, but an MRI scan on Monday showed nothing but heavy bruising, and he’s expected back for the Easter weekend.
Ryan Giles
Like London buses, Giles hadn’t suffered a hamstring issue before picking one up in the win at Middlesbrough after Christmas, and then shortly after returning, suffered one in the opposite leg. He’s on his individual programme and is expected back next month.
Eliot Matazo
The Belgian midfielder stepped up his comeback from the knee ligament injury he picked up in Cardiff last February, when he played 30 minutes for the Under-21s earlier this month. Unfortunately, ahead of another run-out against Sheffield United’s Under-21s, he sustained a quad injury and is expected out until the back end of next month.
Darko Gyabi
Gyabi is sidelined with a groin problem and is back on the grass at Cottingham, which is a big boost for him and City, with the hope he could yet feature in the final games.
Akin Famewo
Another with a hamstring setback, Famewo picked up the issue at Ipswich Town and has been sidelined since. It was suggested by Jakirovic that the former Owl would be out for around six weeks.
Matty Jacob
Continuing the left-back curse, Jacob damaged his medial collateral ligament in his knee earlier this year and has been sidelined since. Like Giles and Gyabi, he’s on the grass and could return next month, having initially been ruled out for a couple of months.
Yu Hirakawa
On loan from Bristol City, the Japan international had been a real positive influence since joining in January, but he suffered a recurrence of an existing ankle problem in the win over Derby County. The winger is not expected back until the back end of the season.
David Akintola
The Nigerian winger, who has played 21 times in league and cup for City this term, remains unavailable for selection after the Tigers were unable to add him to their squad.
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