Hull City were back in training on Thursday as Sergej Jakirovic and his players stepped up preparations for Saturday’s game against Kasimpasa.
The Tigers trained in the early evening sunshine amid cooling temperatures, and away from the 35c degree heat earlier in day and were put through their paces in a tough two-hour session.
Spirits were high amongst the squad, with the Tigers aiming to back up Tuesday’s come-from-behind victory with what would be a third win on the spin.
Here’s a look at the latest behind-the-scenes diary from City’s training camp in Riva…
A day off
City’s players were given the day off on Wednesday, with many of them going off to play golf. The staff have tried to strike a balance this week between hard work and giving players the chance to unwind and have some free time away from the gym or training pitch.
As important as building fitness on these trips is bonding and spending time together and that’s what Jakirovic and his staff have tried to achieve.
It certainly seems to have worked because the players have responded well to the Bosnian’s approach and based on what we’re seeing daily in training, his methods are working.
Matazo making progress
The former Monaco midfielder took a watching brief earlier in the week as he continues to recover from his ACL injury, but he was on the field doing one-to-one work on Thursday.
Lots of balancing on one leg and knocking the ball back with the other, and while it might not seem much, it’s a big step forward in his recovery.
The Belgian star won’t be back until Christmastime, but for him, making such big steps and being out on the grass with the rest of the group is a big plus for him and his confidence.
A watching brief
Skipper Lewie Coyle was one of those watching on, with him unable to train owing to the hamstring problem he picked up against Istanbulspor.
Coyle looks set for an extended spell on the sidelines after coming off just minutes after coming on the pitch, but he was there to lend his support for the rest of his team.
Liam Millar and James Furlong were also watching along with Steven Alzate, while Reda Laalaoui was again unable to train but was there. Gustavo Puerta took a full part in training until the final stages, when he left with what appeared to be a slight muscle complaint
Macca’s goodbye
Just as we saw last year with Jaden Philogene and Matt Ingram, it was Sean McLoughlin’s turn to say his goodbyes from the team hotel in Riva.
The Irishman was packed and ready to head to the airport as he headed back to England to seal a move to Blackburn Rovers after saying his goodbyes to his teammates and the club’s support staff.
City’s longest-serving player looks set to depart the club after six years at the MKM Stadium with the club keen on bringing in a replacement.
Here at Hull Live, we are dedicated to bringing you the best Hull City coverage and analysis. Make sure you don’t miss out on the latest City news by joining our free WhatsApp group. You can get all the breaking news and best analysis sent straight to your phone by clicking here to subscribe. You can also subscribe to our free newsletter service. Click here to be sent all the day’s biggest stories.