Bruce will let Fryatt decide if he is ready for bench duty

The former Leicester City forward has endured a miserable campaign, with last season’s top-scorer having been sidelined for eight months due to a troublesome Achilles injury.

His last Championship game for the Tigers was almost 12 months ago.

But he will be part of the Hull squad which travels to East Anglia later today and is expected to be handed a place on the bench by manager Steve Bruce.

Fryatt had been earmarked for a brief appearance in a scheduled behind-closed-doors game with Birmingham City on Wednesday, but that match was postponed.

Bruce will let Fryatt, who has overcome a virus which affected him at the start of the week, decide if he is ready for a place on the bench, and is hopeful he will be involved.

The Hull boss has confirmed Egyptian forward Gedo will miss the match at Portman Road with a foot injury.

But Fryatt’s availability would soften the blow particularly since Sone Aluko is also sidelined.

Bruce said: “Yes, I am tempted (to play Fryatt), but it is entirely up to Matty. I am not going to put pressure on him.

“I think he has done enough with his fitness. I would not be putting people out there where it was a risk, that is for sure.

“He’s trained for the best part of a month now. Okay, he is not going to be match ready, but a little cameo role from him would be terrific.

“He was comfortable with the idea of playing 20 or 25 minutes in the scheduled reserve game, so once you are at that level the next step is getting out there and playing.

“He obviously needs to be right mentally, but if he can play a cameo it would be terrific, especially with the loss of Gedo and Aluko.”

Hull are keeping their fingers crossed that centre-half Jack Hobbs will line up against Ipswich after training yesterday afternoon following injury, with Bruce rating him as ‘50-50.’

Derby County defender Jake Buxton has signed a new two-year contract with the club.

Buxton, who had 12 months remaining on his current deal, will remain at Pride Park until the summer of 2015, with the option of a further year.

Rams boss Nigel Clough said: “It’s great news that Jake has signed a new contract with us.

“He has formed an excellent partnership with Richard Keogh in central defence and his new deal is a reward for his performances, as well as the way he has improved as a player to become an established Championship defender.

“His all-round game has improved since he joined us.”