NINE stars and City's | injury woes

ABSENTEES UNDERLINE DIFFICULTIES

- By BARRY COOPER

City's Enis Destan

(LINDSEY PARNABY/SHUTTERSTOCK)

It's been a hugely positive season so far for Hull City, with the Tigers firmly in the race for promotion from the Championship and into the fourth round of the FA Cup for the first time in six years.

Despite their good form since the start of the season, Sergej Jakirovic has been unable to name a fully fit squad from game one to now, with injuries a constant thorn in his side.

Semi Ajayi remains away with Nigeria, who have a semifinal in the Africa Cup of Nations, but his absence adds to a list that grew on Sunday when Darko Gyabi departed the action after just 11 minutes with what looked like a serious groin injury.

While Enis Destan has not featured a huge amount, Brandon Williams is a fringe member of the squad, and Darko Gyabi has been in and out.

The other six can be considered first-team starters and would be in Jakirovic's first XI, if available, which shows just how tough it has been for the Croatian.

Thankfully for Jakirovic, Cody Drameh's departure in the first half of extra time was down to cramp, and nothing more sinister than that, which will come as a blessing.

Matt Crooks is also expected to be fit despite pulling out of the warm-up against Rovers with a hamstring complaint. Incidentally, the influential midfielder is also one booking away from a two-game suspension, which would feel particularly untimely were it to come in the next week. City will return to Championship action at Southampton on Saturday with a list of first-team absentees that is significant, and means Jakirovic will yet again face some tough decisions.