Grant McCann to let 'two or three' young Hull City players out on loan

Previously, McCann allowed Elliot Bonds to join Cheltenham Town on a season-long loan and he is now planning to send a few more young professionals out, having received interest from some clubs.

McCann, whose League One table-toppers could equal a club record of five successive clean sheets stretching back to 1925 if they record another shut-out at Fleetwood on Friday night, said: "I had a good meeting with Lee (Darnbrough - head of recruitment) and Ehab (Allam) the other day talking about some of the younger lads. I have not spoken to those players yet, so I am not going to tell you who it is.

"It is some of the younger ones who we would like to get some games. It is important what clubs that they go to and what minutes they are going to get. Like we have done with Elliot Bonds, it has helped him and we know he had a good game on Tuesday night in the EFL Trophy against Plymouth.

"We have have got to be careful where we send them and make sure that they get the right amount of game time.

"Not that we are ones who want to pressurise managers into playing them or anything like that. We just want them to have a fair crack of the whip and we send them out, it has to be a place where we know they will get some game-time really.

"We have had interest in a lot of the young players. It is just picking the right club for them. What has pleased me is that all the young players are desperate to play games.

"Now is the time we can act and to try and send maybe two or three out."

Captain Richie Smallwood (thigh) is rated as a 'touch and go' ahead of Friday's trip to the Fylde coast, while the game could also come too soon for striker Tom Eaves (foot).

James Scott (ankle) remains sidelined for Hull, but Mallik Wilks is fine, according to the Hull City.

McCann said: "It is touch and go whether we risk Richie. He has had a good week's training, but maybe needs another week before we bring him back in. So we might look towards Rochdale for him.

"Tom Eaves has had another little reaction. Nothing serious, but it might keep him out of the game tomorrow night (at Fleetwood) and then again, with another full week's training, he might be okay for Rochdale.

"Mallik is in a good place and he has a full week's training.

"We are just taking it week by week at this present time with James. James has had a couple of days off to clear his head a bit as he was a little bit down on himself really. Once he comes back in, we will see where he is and get him back on the grass probably next week or the week after to see how that ankle feels."

Josh Magennis is on international duty with Northern Ireland and misses the Fleetwood game.