Sergej Jakirovic says Regan Slater has proven he deserves a new contract at Hull City, now the coach is hoping his main midfielder can be tied down for longer.

The Tigers triggered their option to extend the 26-year-old's deal by another 12 months rather than risk losing him for free with Sheffield United, where he began his career, known admirers.

But Jakirovic shares the wish is to tie him down for longer still.

Slater started just three of the former Bosnia midfielder's first eight games as a Championship manager, but has kicked off every league match since.

"I'm very pleased," Jakirovic said of the news, announced on Thursday morning. "Reags deserves everything, he's proved everything on the pitch, he's our main player in midfield because he's playing.

"He's relevant because he's there every game, 90 minutes. Every three days he's playing so it's very good for us."

Since joining from the Blades – initially on a season-long loan for the 2020-21 League One campaign, then permanently the following January – Slater has made 221 appearances and shown consistency, durability and leadership skills.

Others have noticed too. In that context, it feels like Thursday's extension is about buying time and protection rather than securing him, so naturally Jakirovic would like a longer arrangement, but he is not naïve.

PROVEN: Regan Slater has shown Hull City coach Sergej Jakirovic what a key player he is (Image: Tony Johnson)

placeholder image — PROVEN: Regan Slater has shown Hull City coach Sergej Jakirovic what a key player he is (Image: Tony Johnson)

"Of course," he said, "but this is negotiation, this is normal – with the agent, with himself and our club."

Slater's fitness record is also important at a club which has had problems in that respect throughout his time.

With Akin Famewo out for four to five weeks with a calf injury on top of being without Ryan Giles and Matty Jacobs for the next couple of months, Jakirovic found the injury Lewie Coyle – another left-back option – picked up in Tuesday's 1-0 defeat at Ipswich Town extra galling.

"He has problems with the ankle, he got a kick there, like Amir (Hadziahmetovic)," said Jakirovic. "There is no punishment – this is a clear yellow card.

INJURY: Hull City captain Lewie Coyle (Image: Jonathan Gawthorpe)

"When you got a yellow card, you cannot play the same, your aggression is 50 per cent.

"I lost the players for the next game, no yellow cards, no nothing and now I'm struggling with the position.

"I think he will not be ready for Millwall (on Saturday) and we will see on Tuesday (at Wrexham) what will happen.

"It's the same situation with Amir, (Matt) Crooks (received his) 10th yellow card (and is therefore banned).

"There are a lot of challenges, exactly the same, and there is no punishment. This is something that I worry about.

"God knows who will play there (at left-back), I don't know yet who will play."

On-loan Manchester United midfielder Toby Collyer will be in the squad, Jakirovic confirmed. Mohamed Belloumi also trained fully on Thursday, but Hull are wisely being cautious with a winger who injured anterior cruciate knee ligaments last season.

Joe Gelhardt is not a concern despite coming off at half-time at Portman Road.