Hull City return to action after the international break in South Wales
Hull City will welcome new signings Darko Gyabi and Amir Hadziahmetovic into their squad for the first time as the Tigers prepare for Saturday’s trip to Swansea City.
Gyabi and Hadziahmetovic saw their moves to the MKM Stadium confirmed on deadline day last Monday, and the pair will travel to South Wales.
Hadziahmetovic could be handed a first start, while fellow midfielder Gyabi is likely to start on the bench following his move from Leeds United, with Sergej Jakirovic seeing his options boosted.
City‘s squad will also be boosted by summer signing Enis Destan for the first time. The forward has not yet featured after arriving from Trabzonspor with a knee injury, but will travel to South Wales on Friday afternoon.
Another positive is that Akin Famewo is set to return from injury and illness after he missed defeats to Blackburn Rovers and Bristol City. Nathan Tinsdale is also available again after a knee problem.
The Tigers will still be without Semi Ajayi and Matt Crooks, though both are closing in on returns from hamstring and ankle injuries respectively. It’s likely they’ll return in time to face Watford later this month, but Kasey Palmer may not be involved, with him not expected back from international duty until Friday after two wins with Jamaica during the international window.
Liam Millar returned to full training this week for the first time since suffering his season-ending knee injury back in October, but City will be cautious with his return and not rush him back to Championship action. Elsewhere, Harry Vaughan is set for a spell on the sidelines after dislocating his shoulder away with the Republic of Ireland Under-21s.
Mo Belloumi continues to head towards starting a game for the first time since damaging his ACL on Bonfire Night, with Jakirovic hinting the Algerian could be in from the start in the next couple of weeks.
“He’s good. Mo is a very good player. With the ball, he made an assist for Kyle (Joseph) in Bristol. He made an assist in his second appearance since he came back. He scored two goals (for the Under-21s). This goal was very nice, and he played 60 minutes. Everything is by the plan, and this is good. Maybe in the next two rounds, he can start, yes. By the minutes so far, he is good. He’s played 10, 20 and now 60, so it’s good.”
“Akin (Famewo) is good, he trained with us all week, so he will be in the squad, which is also very important for us,” he continued. “Destan trained with us. Thank God he trained with us. He will be in the squad for this game. He’s looked good. We now have Oli (McBurnie), Kyle (Joseph), and Enis, so the options are good. Two wingers, it’s perfect, plus (David) Akintola, (Joel) Ndala. This is good.”
On Ajayi and Crooks, Jakirovic said: “I think by the plan with our medical staff, maybe after Southampton for Watford. He (Vaughan) got an injury for the national team, but I don’t know how many weeks (he will be out). Kasey’s been away. He didn’t arrive yet, so he will not be in the squad for this game. I think he’s coming tomorrow (Friday).”
Left-back James Furlong has also suffered a major setback with a recurrence of the quad injury which ended his season last term. The Irishman is expected to be sidelined for the next month at least, and has not been named in the club’s 24-man EFL squad.
He said: “James Furlong injured again the same spot, so I think one-and-a-half months he will be out. It’s the same quad (muscle). It’s so unlucky for him.”
The return of skipper Lewie Coyle presents Jakirovic with a dilemma at right-back, given Cody Drameh’s early-season form, but the Croatian says it’s a problem he wants and needs, given the increase in games as the weeks go on.
“Yes, we have competition in that area. Cody can also play on the left side, so with Gilo (Ryan Giles), Brandon Williams, you see now we have four good full-backs. It’s my decision who I will pick for the game.
“Now, it’s easy because we play one game per week, but after Watford, we play again immediately, three days later. Preston, then Sheffield United, then the international break, then six games in four weeks, so we play every three days.”
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