The Tigers welcome the Lions to East Yorkshire on Friday evening
Mohamed Belloumi in action against Norwich City(Image: Freddie Yeo/MB Media/Getty Images)
Hull City have been given a clean bill of health for Friday night’s Championship play-off semi-final first leg against Millwall at a sold-out MKM Stadium.
Matt Crooks and John Egan are both fine and trained after having issues on Saturday, while Mo Belloumi is ready to play after coming off in the 2-1 win over Norwich City.
City will still be without longer term absentees Cody Drameh, Amir Hadziahmetovic and the stricken Eliot Matazo, who underwent surgery in London on Tuesday. Drameh is back on the grass individual training, and could make a return should the Tigers progress into the Championship play-off final in late May by overcoming the Lions over two legs.
Jakirovic’s job since the players returned to training on Tuesday will have been to bring them back to earth after the euphoria of the weekend, and focus their minds on two huge games against Alex Neil’s Lions.
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“I had a few beers and I went home to sleep, but I didn’t sleep so well. I don’t know, maybe it’s because of everything, what happened on Saturday. I slept like not so good but I was very happy because of everything that we achieved altogether,” he told Hull Live when asked how he celebrated.
“It’s surreal because when I saw highlights from the Wrexham vs Middlesbrough game, and then Derby as well; Derby could be 3-0 in front in the first half but, this is football. Even Middlesbrough in the last last 10 minutes was a 5-5 split on each side. It was a very nice feeling and that you achieved something very, very big. This regular season, it’s over now, and we’re starting a new tournament.”
The scenes post-match at the MKM Stadium were memorable, with the players and their families celebrating with the supporters likely to live long in the memory.
“I really enjoyed them,” the Croatian continued. “I was in the stands and then you see everything and you see how people are very, very happy. Unbelievable scenes, yes, a lot of people on the pitch and they were very happy, very satisfied.
“You can’t forget these moments because they stay in your brain. I felt like we won the league, so it’s like a big relief. We wanted this victory, especially after these six games where we couldn’t find a way to win the games and now in the right moment I can say like this, but it was very much on the edge.”
Jakirovic says the training ground has understandably been a vibrant place since the players returned on Tuesday, having been given a couple of days off to reflect on Saturday’s memorable events.
“It was perfect,” he said. “The last six games or the last one month and a half was not so easy for us. There were big expectations, you are there, then the other teams catch you.
“You have to win the game and then everything is tense and the tension is big. On Tuesday, it was a big smile around on our faces and a great atmosphere, even in the training sessions. It’s still focus and concentration and then we are ready to go again.”
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