Hull City's safety first with Mo Belloumi pays off but midfielder's season is over
Hull City will be boosted by the presence of Mo Belloumi as they look to make a quick return to the Championship play-off places at Charlton Athletic on Saturday.
But Amir Hadziahmetovic's Hull season is over as he prioritises the World Cup.
Winger Belloumi was substituted during Tuesday's 2-2 draw with Leicester City after hamstring tightness. Since returning from anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) damage in August, he has had two hamstring injuries.
The draw – and Wrexham's win at Oxford United – saw Hull drop out of the top six they were in for 22 of the previous 23 matchdays.
But kicking off at 12.30pm, with Wrexham at Coventry City on Sunday, gives them a chance to make a quick return.
"Mo is good," said coach Sergej Jakirovic, banned from the touchline after a red card on Tuesday for sarcastically clapping the referee.
"I didn't want to take a risk at half-time because I remember Sheffield Wednesday and Boxing Day. It was a similar situation – 'How are you, Mo?' 'I'm fine, I can play', and then two months out."
On Bosnia midfielder Hadziahmetovic, compatriot Jakirovic explained: "He will try to avoid surgery (on his knee) because you can go for surgery at any time.
"For us and for him, the season is over and he will try to fix this knee for the World Cup. He has full support from us.
"It's not every year you are going to the World Cup. If he's not good, he will go for surgery but it's a four-month recovery."
Eliot Matazo was an unused substitute in midweek but could return from his own ACL injury.
"It's the third game in seven days so maybe we will have a couple of changes,” said Jakirovic.
"This (Matazo) is for me the biggest doubt. He's a very good footballer but the Championship is not about the ball, it's about fitness. Maybe we will take a risk."
Meanwhile, Harrogate Town will be without Mason Bennett for their final two games as they look to rescue their Football League status.
Town are at Walsall on Saturday, and finish at home to Barnet. They are bottom of League Two, but two points separate the bottom four, two of whom – Barrow and Newport County – meet on the last day.