Hull will lean on Harper’s top-flight experience with McGregor injured

The Scotland international, who has played a key role in the Tigers’ positive return to the top flight following a £1.6m summer switch from Besiktas in Turkey, suffered a thigh injury in last weekend’s defeat at Everton.

Manager Steve Bruce said: “We have just found out that Allan is going to be out for five or six weeks.

“As I have said repeatedly, injuries are the one area where we needed to stay fit and healthy and this one couldn’t have come at a worse time.

“Allan will be a big miss for us because he has played very, very well and we wish him a speedy recovery.”

McGregor’s injury means the former Rangers goalkeeper will also be unavailable for Scotland’s two friendlies next month against the USA and Norway.

His absence for the Tigers, however, is likely to be more keenly felt with McGregor having kept three clean sheets in his eight Premier League appearances.

Scans confirmed the extent of the injury yesterday and mean he will definitely miss next month’s league games with Sunderland, Southampton and Crystal Palace along with the forthcoming league and Capital One Cup double-header against Tottenham Hotspur.

The December 1 home match with Liverpool could be a possible date for McGregor’s return or the following week’s trips to Arsenal and Swansea City.

The absence of McGregor means Harper will get a rare chance to impress. The veteran, signed in the summer from Newcastle United, has just two appearances for the Tigers to his name – August’s 2-1 League Cup win over League One side Leyton Orient and the third-round triumph over Huddersfield Town.

Bruce added: “This is the reason we brought Steve in, to be fair. He has got an abundance of Premier League experience.”