The Tigers will meet a familiar foe at the MKM Stadium
Sergej Jakirovic has lined up a friendly contest over the international break(Image: Naomi Baker/Getty Images)
Hull City have lined up a friendly clash during the international break in an effort to find minutes for those players that need them.
After Saturday’s clash against Newcastle United at St James’ Park, the Tigers will have three weeks to wait until their next Premier League outing against Everton in October. That’s because of the extended international break, with most UEFA nations playing four Nations League games over the period.
Sergej Jakirovic and the rest of his City coaching staff will be doing all they can to navigate their way through the international break without losing the momentum they have managed to build up so far.
With 13 players set to leave camp and join up with their respective national teams, that may be easier said than done, but the head coach has moved to organise a friendly with Yorkshire rivals Sheffield United to keep those that will remain within the Tigers set up ticking over.
“We have a lot of international players which we are very proud of but it will be very busy for them, we will see how many minutes they will play,” Jakirovic said. “We have 13 confirmed, we got 15 invitations, and now we will see.
“Three weeks, this is the first experience, we have our plan for what we need to do. In the second week of the international break we will train normally with the rest of the players.
“Also, we’ve organised already a friendly game against Sheffield United at the MKM Stadium on Friday, October 1.”
Oli McBurnie, Sorba Thomas, Elliot Stroud and Nobel Mendy are amongst those who have already been called up, while Mo Belloumi has received his first Algeria call up, too.
Konstantinos Tzolakis and Lucas Herrington are amongst those who can expect to get the nod for next week’s international games.
Jakirovic is pleased to see so many of his players get recognised, but he will have everything crossed that they return to East Yorkshire without injury.
“This is the main goal for me,” Jakirovic said. “I think that Oli fully deserves this invitation. No anymore long holiday for him now but I am proud and he is already proud to represent your country and this is the highest level of football.
“I just hope Oli and the rest of the players will come back healthy.”