Sergej Jakirovic delighted to see Hull City's options grow with busy spell on horizon
A largely positive injury bulletin has given Hull City coach Sergej Jakirovic some difficult decisions as the schedule temporarily eases.
Lewie Coyle is pushing for his first start this season at Swansea City on Saturday, where deadline-day signings Darko Gyabi and Amir Hadziahmetovic could make debuts along with Enis Destan, who has been out with knee trouble.
Akin Famewo and Nathan Tinsdale are also fit again.
Winger Mohammed Belloumi is not yet fit to start, but scored twice for the Tigers' Under-21s as he recovers from anterior cruciate ligament damage. Liam Millar closing in on a return from the same injury.
Coyle is Hull’s captain, but ex-Leeds United right-back Cody Drameh did well in his absence.
“Cody can also play on the left side, so with Gilo (Ryan Giles) and Brandon Williams,” noted Jakirovic. “Now we have four good full-backs.
“We now have Oli (McBurnie), Kyle (Joseph), and Enis (at centre-forward), so the options are good. Two wingers, it's perfect, plus (David) Akintola, (Joel) Ndala.
“Now it's easy because we play one game per week, but after Watford (on September 27) we play three days later – Preston, then Sheffield United, then the international break, then six games in four weeks.”
Belloumi came off the bench in the last two matches, his first senior games since last Bonfire Night. In the most recent he made a goal for Joseph. Millar returned to full training this week but Hull have to ease both back.
Semi Ajayi and Matt Crooks are still out, whilst Kasey Palmer's late return from Jamaica duty could cost him an appearance fee.
Harry Vaughan dislocated his shoulder playing for Republic of Ireland Under-21s and James Furlong is not on the 24-man Football League squad list after a recurrence of his quad injury.