Grant McCann hoping Hull City get injury lift but there will be no moans if not

Grant McCann was playing his cards close to his chest in Thursday's pre-match press conference but he is hoping the treatment room can provide Hull City with a lift ahead of their crucial match against Charlton Athletic.
Hull City coach Grant McCann is refusing to moan about his bad luckHull City coach Grant McCann is refusing to moan about his bad luck
Hull City coach Grant McCann is refusing to moan about his bad luck
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Whether he gets it or not, he insists there will be no bemoaning his lot.

Victory for the Addicks will move them out of the relegation zone at the Tigers' expense, whereas a first Championship victory since New Year's Day will open up a five-point gap.

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The head coach was not naming names but he was expecting “two or three” of his injured players to return to training today, although whether any will be fit enough to play at the weekend remains to be seen.

“It's a little bit as you were, really,” said McCann. “People are getting better. We should have possibly two or three on the pitch today.

“Whether the game comes too quickly for them, we'll see how they react to training but it is what it is.

“I see some of the top managers during the week complaining about two or three injuries but they should maybe take a walk into Hull City and see the nine or 10 we've got. It's never been an excuse of ours, we just get on with it.

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“We're hoping for some positive news going into the weekend.

“It's not been easy. We seem to have everything at once.

“We have a young group who are learning all the time. This experience they're getting, the experience I'm getting, is only going to serve us better, I know that for a fact. I've not had this situation before.

“It all stems from making you stronger in the future. I hope we can bring maybe two or three back into the group at the weekend if they train well today.

“I wouldn't like to say who in case anything happens but I feel a bit more positive.”

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Hull have picked up two points from a possible 33, and their crippling injury list has compounded the deadline-day sales of wingers Jarrod Bowen and Kamil Grosicki, their two best players and highest scorers.

They will be hoping they hit a nadir in last week's 5-1 defeat at relegation rivals Stoke City, where the 513 away fans chanted: “This is embarrassing.”

Despite that, McCann says the training-ground mood has been upbeat since.

“It's not been easy for us at the minute but it's been a positive week,” he insisted.

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“We want to put a show on, we want to have some sort of reaction. We were all disappointed and deflated last week.

“This is a good game for us. We want to play on the front foot, make sure we have a real good go and try and win the game.

“Before the Stoke game we knew we had 10 big games left, we've nine now. It's almost 20 per cent of the season still to play although it doesn't feel like that. We know what we need to do, we're very clear on that.

“The week has been good, it's been a positive week, so we're looking forward to getting out there.

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“No one mopes about anyway, from me to the players. We're always in a positive frame of mind and onto the next game.

“That's been the case from day one since I arrived at the football club. We always analyse each game and look to improve on it win, lose or draw.

“Confidence is a massive thing, not just in football, but in life. The only thing that can make you confident is yourself, and that comes from within. Yes, a lot of people can tell you how good you are and tickle your ego but ultimately it's down to you as an individual.

“That's not just the players, the staff, that's everybody.

“We all have to come together sand produce our best.”

An extra body or two would be a big help.

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