City will look to return to winning ways against the Lillywhites on Tuesday evening
Hull City will have Semi Ajayi back in their squad for Tuesday night’s crunch home meeting with Preston North End at the MKM Stadium.
Ajayi has not played for City since the opening day draw at Coventry City early last month after succumbing to a hamstring tear, and his absence has been keenly felt.
In the seven games since, Sergej Jakirovic’s side have conceded 17 goals, with two more at Watford on Saturday after leading 1-0 at half-time to see them lose 2-1 and miss the chance to end a run of 44 games without securing successive victories.
Despite initial hopes that Matt Crooks would be in the squad, the midfielder will not feature against sixth-placed North End, but it’s hoped the former Middlesbrough ace will be involved against Sheffield United on Saturday in the final outing before the international break.
City will be without Joel Ndala until after the international break, as well as Mohamed Belloumi and longer-term absentee Eliot Matazo, but the return of Ajayi is a major boost. Belloumi will have a scan on Tuesday to assess his progress on the hamstring injury he sustained in the first half against Southampton.
The positive news for the Algerian is that he only sustained a hamstring strain, and not a tear, so it’s a case of giving it time to recover, but he’s still expected to be sidelined for a month or so.
Jakirovic, speaking on the eve of the visit of Paul Heckingbottom’s side, says he will make a decision on the Nigerian international following Monday afternoon’s training session, who has been back in training for the last couple of weeks.
“No one complained (of problems after Watford), everyone is ready, and Semi Ajayi will be in the squad,” Jakirovic told Hull Live. “We will see (if he starts). We have training this afternoon (Monday), and then we will decide. Matt Crooks, not yet. We will see (for Saturday), but right now the plans are to take it day by day.”
Jakirovic made one change at Vicarage Road with Cody Drameh replacing the injured Belloumi, and he’s hinted at another couple of changes against the Lillywhites as he looks to freshen up his team with two vitally important home games.
“One or two changes, but also I wonder if we have the best player in this moment on the pitch,” he questioned about his side, before adding: “Liam Millar will get some minutes in this game.”
Manchester City loanee Joel Ndala has a foot problem which ruled him out of the weekend, and though the young winger won’t play this week, it’s hoped he can be back for the trip to Birmingham City next month.
“He’s (Ndala) good. He has been having therapy, but he’s not available for this game,” he added on Ndala. “I hope he will be back (after the international break).”
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