West Brom v Hull City - Tigers waiting on duo’s fitness

The Tigers ended their 13-match winless run in midweek when they beat Middlesbrough 2-1, but that victory came at a cost as Herbie Kane and Callum Elder both picked up injuries.

Midfielder Kane, who is on loan from Liverpool, has been in fine form of late and has scored twice in as many appearances, while the absence of Elder would leave Grant McCann with limited options at left-back.

And although the pair have not definitely been ruled out, their chances of featuring in the Black Country look slim at best after City’s head coach revealed the nature of their respective issues.

“It looks like his hamstring,” McCann said of Kane’s withdrawal.

“We’re not sure how severe. Herbie came across and said it was just feeling a bit tight, so hopefully we’ve caught it early but we won’t know the extent until I’ve seen the doctors and the physios.

“Callum Elder had to come off with an elbow. We’ve seen it back on the video and it didn’t look too pretty, so I’m surprised the officials missed that.

“He’s come off with concussion, so we’ll probably have to follow a protocol.

“I’m not too sure how long it is at the minute, I think it’s different types for the severity, so we’ll see how he is over the next couple of days.”

City’s success over relegation rivals Boro lifted them out of the Championship’s bottom three and McCann believes that his players will head to West Bromwich in a positive frame of mind off the back of that result.

“We’ve got a really tough game at West Brom but we can go there with a bit of confidence now having that monkey off our back by getting that win,” the Tigers chief added.

“We’re two games unbeaten and we’ve got to try and take the positives.”

Hull’s match-winner last time out was Mallik Wilks, a man whose loan deal at the KCOM Stadium only became a permanent transfer on the morning of Thursday’s game.

And, having celebrated committing his long-term future to the Tigers in the best possible way, he is aiming for more of the same at the Hawthorns.

“Three points [against Middlesbrough] and the confidence is back in the group,” Wilks said.

“Hopefully we can get another three points on Sunday.”

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