Hull City

Hull City boss Sergej Jakirovic says "he feels 50/50" about winger Liam Millar joining up with Canada over the international break as he makes his comeback from lengthy knee injury.

The 26-year-old made his first appearance of the season on Tuesday against Preston North End after being sidelined for almost a full year with an ACL tear.

"You cannot stop him," Jakirovic told BBC Radio Humberside.

"For us, it's a problem because it's coming up to the World Cup so every player in the world wants to be part of this. So he will go there and we will see.

"We sent an email to the federation, to the fitness coach, what his condition is and they are very fair, I will admit. He will play, for sure, some minutes but they know everything about his condition - this is very important."

Defender Ryan Giles is fit after suffering from cramp during Tuesday's draw, while midfielder Matt Crooks is back training and could possibly be in the squad for Saturday's game against Sheffield United (12:30 BST).

Forward Joel Ndala is expected to return after the next international break but winger Mohamed Belloumi is still "a few weeks" away from recovery.

Meanwhile, midfielder Eliot Matazo is hoping he will be fully recovered from a long-term ACL injury in November but Jakirovic feels it may be a bit longer.

"I'm betting him that if he will be [fit next month] I will give him whatever he wants. Because we have examples from Mo Belloumi and Liam Millar, it was like eight months, nine months, then 11 months," the Bosnian added.

"He's very optimistic, this is a good attitude, but I am more realistic."

Listen to the full interview with Jakirovic and more Hull City content on BBC Sounds.

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Chris Wilder's quest to haul Sheffield United off the bottom of the Championship takes the Blades east to Hull City on Saturday lunchtime (12:30 BST).

Tuesday's 2-1 home defeat to Southampton was a seventh in eight league games for United, who are still only three points adrift of fourth-bottom Oxford United, albeit with a goal difference of -12, by far the worst in the division, though the only side to have conceded more than their 15 is Saturday's hosts, with 16.

Wilder will face a familiar face at the MKM Stadium as Oli McBurnie - who spent five seasons at Bramall Lane - is leading the line for the Tigers and is in the best form of his career.

The 29-year-old Scot bagged a second-half brace at home to Preston on Tuesday as City followed-up their impressive 3-1 win over Southampton in their previous home match.

• Hull City have won just one of their past eight league games against Sheffield United (D1 L6), failing to score in six, though the Tigers did win the last meeting 3-0 in January earlier this year.

• Sheffield United have won each of their past four away league games against Hull City, scoring 2+ goals in each of those victories.

• Hull City have only kept one clean sheet in their past 25 home league games, while that came in March against a Plymouth side who went on to be relegated from the Championship (2-0 win).

• Sheffield United have lost seven of their eight Championship matches this season (W1). It took them until their 40th match of the previous league campaign to suffer their seventh defeat.

• Ahead of facing his former side, Oli McBurnie has netted in four consecutive Championship appearances (five goals); his longest ever scoring run in the top four tiers of English football.

Hull City striker Oli McBurnie has given insight into the dressing room at half-time during their 2-2 draw with Preston North End at MKM Stadium.

City were caught caught cold early on, finding themselves two goals behind in the opening 10 minutes.

McBurnie led the charge with both goals as the Tigers mounted a second-half comeback to rescue a point.

The Scotland striker discussed the half-time process as his side looked to claw their way back into the game.

"It's a bit like the story of our season really - one half really good, and one half really bad. Conceding two goals so early on, giving ourselves an uphill battle is not ideal," McBurnie told BBC Radio Humberside.

"At half-time we said 'let's see what we're about, let's see what we're made of'. Times like this is where you can find out a lot about the boys in the dressing room. The skipper said at half-time 'let's put it to bed, we'll speak about it afterwards, let's see what we're made of now'.

"I think we've come out in the second half and looked like a completely different team and showed how good we can be when we're on the front foot."

Hull appointed head coach Sergej Jakirovic in June and the Bosnian has experienced an inconsistent start from his side in the opening eight games of the season.

McBurnie was one of 12 new summer signings and quick to praise Jakirovic for his triple substitution at half-time that saw Liam Millar, Joe Gelhardt and Regan Slater replace Amir Hadziahmetovic, Cody Drameh and Kasey Palmer.

"The gaffer's made three changes," he said. "I thought the boys who came on were excellent - it gave us real energy and it impacted the game in the way that we wanted to. Buzzing for Liam [Millar] to come on after being out for so long but I thought all the boys that came on really changed us for the positive.

"That's not just saying the boys that came off, it was their fault, because any of us could have been taken off at half-time. But the gaffer showing the initiative to know that we needed to change something did it, and it's worked out perfectly.

"We're disappointed not to come away with the three points because I think we were good enough in the second half to do that, and to be fair their keeper has pulled one out the stands in the 94th minute to keep them in the game."

Listen to the full interview and more on BBC Sounds

Image source, Rex Features

Hull head coach Sergej Jakirovic was pleased with his side's fightback from 2-0 down after a poor first-half display against Preston.

"It was a great reaction from the players at half-time," Jakirovic told BBC Radio Humberside. "At the end we have to be satisfied with this point.

"We tried everything in the second half to turn this game, we needed to be better on the ball and take more risks. We made three substitutions, they lifted us and brought us a lot of energy on the pitch and also we were very dangerous in the attacking phase.

"In the first half we made too many mistakes, we were struggling all half because we lost our confidence and we didn't cover the ball well.

"They were better in challenges than us and this was something we needed to change at half-time, to bring more fight, more character to put them under pressure, especially if we scored in the first 15 minutes."

Hull City captain Lewis Coyle says he feels in a good spot physically despite missing pre-season due to a hamstring injury.

Coyle has made four Championship appearances this season, his most recent in a 2-1 defeat by Watford on Saturday.

The 29-year-old defender says he was lucky his injury only kept him out for seven weeks and insists the Tigers are in a good place despite a so-so start that has yielded eight points from seven games.

"We've still got a few players to come back that have been a huge miss for us - I think when we have a fully fit and healthy squad, we do have a fantastic squad in the Championship," Coyle told BBC Radio Humberside.

"I'm glad to be back out there to help the boys as much as I can.

"It's nice to get the approval of the manager - for me, it's always been an honour to be captain. If different managers come in and have a different opinion, that would be something I'd have to respect.

"I've always had good lads around me that have helped me - and the lads who have come in, the standard of training has gone up massively."

Hull City next host Preston North End on Tuesday (19:45 BST).

Listen to the full interview and more on BBC Sounds.

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Hull City return to the MKM aiming to get back to winning ways after being stunned by Watford late-on in a 2-1 defeat on Saturday.

The Tigers romped to a 3-1 win over Southampton in their most recent home game and though they are the fifth-leading scorers in the division with 11, nobody has conceded more than the 14 they have shipped.

Preston are the visitors on Tuesday night (19:45 BST) and head east on a three-match unbeaten run after a goalless draw at home to Bristol City on Saturday.

The Lilywhites have lost only one of their seven Championship matches to lie in sixth, though their sole defeat did come on the road at Portsmouth, and while they have only scored seven times in as many games, they have the best defence in the second tier with just five conceded.

• Hull have only lost one of their past six league meetings with Preston (W2 D3), and could win back-to-back league games against the Lilywhites for the first time since November 2019.

• Preston have only enjoyed two wins in their past 12 league visits to Hull (D3 L7), a 2-1 triumph in September 2017 and a 1-0 win in February 2022.

• Hull have alternated between winning (3) and losing (2) their last five home league games, beating Southampton 3-1 last time out. The Yorkshire side have managed just one clean sheet in their past 24 at home in the Championship (2-0 v Plymouth in March).

• After their 1-0 win at Derby, Preston are looking for back-to-back away league victories for the first time since March 2024 (3 in a row).

• Hull's Oli McBurnie has five goal involvements (2 goals, 3 assists) in three home league games this season, both scoring and assisting in two of them.

Hull City boss Sergej Jakirovic lamented his side's inability to score a second goal as his slide slipped to a 2-1 defeat to Watford after taking the lead at Vicarage Road.

The Bosnian told BBC Radio Humberside: "There was too big a difference between the first and second half and that needs to improve.

"In my opinion we were the much better team and we had a couple of chances to score a second or third, and we didn't do that.

"We knew they would react in the second half but I never felt we were under pressure, but both goals we could have defended better.

"When we lose the ball they are really dangerous – maybe the best in the league. But we were very poor in the second half, I do not know why."

Watford boss Paulo Pezzolano will be looking to ease some pressure as the side welcome Hull City on Saturday (15:00 BST).

The Hornets have lost their past two games to see them just hovering above the relegation zone and put Pezzolano under the microscope at a club known to have little patience when it comes to under-performing managers.

Perhaps it's a good time to face a side that hasn't been able to do much damage in recent years, but the Tigers are coming off a huge 3-1 win over Southampton and it could be just the confidence boost they need to break Watford's unbeaten run.

• Watford are unbeaten in their last four league games against Hull (W2 D2), winning this exact fixture 1-0 back in April last season.

• Hull have failed to either win (D2 L2) or score in any of their last four away league games against Watford since a 2-1 win in December 2012.

• Watford have won just one of their last 11 league games (D3 L7), beating QPR 2-1 in their first home game of the season.

• Having beaten Southampton 3-1 last time out, Hull are looking to secure consecutive league victories for the first time since a run of three ending in October 2024.

• No Championship player has been involved in more goals than Hull's Oliver McBurnie this season (6), with his three goals and three assists all coming in his last five appearances.

Hull City boss Sergej Jakirovic has revealed midfielder Mohamed Belloumi will be sidelined for at least six weeks with a hamstring injury.

The 23-year-old made his first start for 11 months in last Saturday's 3-1 Championship win over Southampton after recovering from a serious knee problem, but was forced off just before half-time.

"He is positive and I also try to be very positive to lift him up because I told him after 11 months out, what is six to eight weeks? Nothing, but it's not easy to be strong in your mindset," Jakirovic told BBC Radio Humberside.

"Eight weeks is the maximum for him to be out but we expect him back in six weeks."

Belloumi has scored two goals in the 14 league appearances he has managed for the Tigers since joining from Portuguese side Farense in August 2024 and Jakirovic has liked what he has seen of the Algerian since he took over as head coach in June.

"He showed his qualities in the 120 minutes he has played since his return, especially one-on-one when attacking the defensive line," Jakirovic added.

"He's a very good player so it's a big impact for us but we have to stay positive and think in six weeks he will be back and the international break helps us for two weeks so we'll be without him for [only] four weeks when we have games."

Hull City return to Championship action at Watford on Saturday (15:00 BST).

Hull City sporting director Jared Dublin believes the turmoil at Championship rivals Sheffield Wednesday has played a role in the English Football League's decision not to fully overturn the Tigers' transfer sanctions.

Hull were initially given a three-window transfer fee restriction after missing payments for loan players but saw that sanction reduced to two, with the third window suspended, after an appeal.

"I believe the circumstances around Sheffield Wednesday played a part," Dublin told BBC Radio Humberside.

"Whether that's conscious, subconscious, or as a larger concern within regards to ownership within the Championship specifically.

"Had this happened without the Sheffield Wednesday situation, would things have been different? Legally, they will say 'no' but from my perspective there's a big drive from the EFL to make sure these situations like Sheffield Wednesday don't happen.

"I don't think we are anywhere near that level of financial strain and stress and disappointment but we've been given our ruling and we have to live with it."

Listen to the full interview with Dublin and more Tigers content on BBC Sounds.

A potential move to take the Championship play-offs down to eighth place would damage the competition's credibility, according to former Huddersfield, Stoke and Middlesbrough defender Tommy Smith.

The EFL board is set to discuss proposals to increase the number of teams in the end-of-season play-offs from four to six but Smith, who was promoted to the Premier League with Huddersfield via the play-offs in 2017 is not a fan of the idea.

"It's not for me - I think it suits teams who don't really have a chance to get in the top six," he told the BBC's EFL podcast 72+.

"From a credibility point of view the top six is there to be aimed at and you have to earn your place in it."

The play-offs were first introduced for the 1986-87 season where sides finishing third down to fifth were involved along with the team third-from-bottom in the top flight.

After two seasons the format was changed to be played out between teams finishing third to sixth in the second tier.

"To finish eighth in the Championship and potentially get promoted to the Premier League it just doesn't sit right with me," added Smith.

"Notoriously over the past years getting into the top six is tough and when you get in there after a long hard season it feels brilliant, so to make it a top eight it dilutes it."

Hull City striker Oli McBurnie says that boss Sergej Jakirovic keeps reminding him of his goal targets after he scored his third of the season in their 3-1 win against Southampton on Saturday.

The Scotland international was set a target of 15 goals by Jakirovic when he joined from Las Palmas in the summer and it is a number he is not being allowed to forget.

"He [Jakirovic] keeps reminding me, he just said after the game 'how many more?'," McBurnie told BBC Radio Humberside.

"Him and the chairman, every time they see me, they keep reminding me there's a tally I need to get to so I'm just trying to get there."

The 29-year-old has three goals and three assists to his name across the Tigers' opening six Championship games, plus a fourth strike in their Carabao Cup loss to Wrexham in August.

However, regardless of his own personal ambitions, McBurnie believes that the helping his team-mates find the net is just as valuable as taking the glory for himself.

"You are going to be judged on your goals as a striker," he added.

"I think only scored five goals last year and maybe eight assists, so it gets to 'oh, you only scored five goals'. It always reverts back to you're a striker and you need to score goals.

"If you get 13 goal contributions - goals or assists - it means you and your team have got 13 goals so it doesn't matter if you've scored or anyone else has scored."

Listen to the full post-match interview with McBurnie and more Hull City content on BBC Sounds.

Image source, Rex Features

Hull City head coach Sergej Jakirovic believes it was his side's shape that was the reason behind their 3-1 win against Southampton on Saturday.

Goals from Kyle Joseph, John Lundstram and Oli McBurnie saw off a struggling Southampton all despite the Tigers having less than 30% possession of the ball.

"I'm very happy because the players put everything out on the pitch with energy, with intensity," said the Bosnian to BBC Radio Humberside.

"We were struggling in some situations because Southampton is a very good team, invest a lot of money and they will fight for promotion for sure because this is traditional.

"I knew we wouldn't have the ball because they are very good in possession, but the plan was that we were compact if we are low or in the middle zone.

"At the end it succeeded because we scored three beautiful goals, especially with crosses, because when we analysed Southampton they struggled with controlling the players in the box."

Southampton go in search of their first Championship win since the opening day of the season when they head to Hull City on Saturday (15:00 BST).

Saints have drawn three and lost one of their four fixtures since beating Wrexham in dramatic fashion, but are still one point and five places better off than the Tigers before their meeting at the MKM.

City salvaged a point at Swansea last time out but the 2-2 draw meant they had conceded 11 goals in their past four games, which earned them four points.

• Hull City won their last league meeting with Southampton in February 2024 but haven't won back-to-back matches against the Saints since the 1950-51 second tier campaign (4-1 home, 3-2 away).

• Southampton have won four of their last five away league visits to Hull City (L1), winning 2-1 in their most recent trip in 2023-24.

• Only Wrexham's Championship matches (164) have seen more shots than Hull's games (150 – 69 for, 81 against).

• The Tigers have conceded two or more goals in each of their last four league games, having not done so in any 16 games beforehand.

• Southampton have won just two of their last 33 league matches (D8 L23), drawing each of their last two. The Saints last drew three in a row in August/September 2021 (four consecutively).

• Hull City striker Oli McBurnie could make his 250th appearance in the top four tiers of English football. He has, however, never scored in five previous outings vs Southampton, only facing Bristol City (7) more times without scoring among current Championship clubs.

Assistant coach Dean Holden says Hull City will be diligent about when to reintegrate Liam Millar into the first team.

The Canadian midfielder, who turns 26 later this month, sustained an ACL injury against Burnley on 23 October 2024 but has returned to training with the Tigers and is in contention for a return to the squad.

City snatched a last-gasp 2-2 draw at Swansea on Saturday to make it five points from five games and welcome Southampton to the MKM Stadium on Saturday (15:00 BST).

Here are some of the key points from Holden's pre-match interview with BBC Radio Humberside:

• He expects the same squad for the visit of the Saints as the one which drew at Swansea, as Matt Crooks and Semi Ajayi remain sidelined, though they have returned to rehab on grass.

• Millar is back in training but "we have to choose which is the right game for him to return in. We have to be diligent."

• The club are pleased with the performances of Lewie Coyle and Mo Belloumi since their return from injury.

• After a cameo off the bench at Swansea, Enis Destan played in an under-21s game against Charlton in midweek and has impressed in training.

• Holden has loved every second of his time at Hull since joining in the summer. "It's a fantastic place to work with great people and an exciting squad."

Click here to listen to the full interview with BBC Radio Humberside via BBC Sounds

Hull City defender John Egan believes getting a point away at Swansea will be the beginning of a Tigers improvement in the Championship this season.

The Tigers drew 2-2 with the Swans courtesy of Egan's 97th-minute goal to pick up their fifth point of the season.

"It's important to come away from home and get results - it's a long season, every point is so important," Egan told BBC Radio Humberside.

Before the international break, Hull City had lost two games on the bounce.

In six games this season, including the Carabao Cup defeat at Wrexham, they have conceded 14 goals and only managed one clean sheet in the 0-0 draw at Coventry City in their opener.

"We have to get more ruthless in our defending as a team," Egan said.

"We [must] defend better, keep clean sheets, I think there's goals in the team so we've a lot of improvement to do but I think we're going in the right direction."

Hull now sit 20th in the Championship but have three home fixtures - as well as a trip to Watford - to come before the next international break, against Southampton, Sheffield United and Birmingham City.

"We have a really good squad and a good manager and I really feel like there's a lot to come from us this season," Egan added.

Listen to the full interview with John Egan and more Hull City on Sounds.

Owain Gwynedd Griffith
BBC Final Score reporter

Image source, Getty Images

It was a dramatic finish in south Wales, with John Egan's 97th-minute equaliser securing a deserved point for Hull at Swansea.

The Tigers, who haven't won away since 5 April, could have easily given up but showed unusual tenacity for a side struggling on the road.

It was also written in the stars that Oli McBurnie, the former Swans hero, would score against his former club - and he did for a second time. The first came in 2023 for Sheffield United.

Swansea will feel disappointed as they controlled large parts of the game and held the lead until so late.

That said, Swans fans will feel that they've got a squad that can push for the top six.

Malick Yalcouye, the 19-year-old on loan from Brighton, showed his potential as he started instead of injured Marko Stamenic.

Sitting in midfield, he looked to drive forward with the ball at his feet, with pace and strength, on each occasion possible.

He provided the assist for Zan Vipotnik's opening goal and was at the centre of the attack that led to Ronald's score.

Drawing what the Hull defenders must have believed to be a foul that the referee had whistled for but hadn't as they stood like statues, Zeidane Inoussa crossed, Ronald tapped in unopposed.

Yalcouye will have a big part to play in Swansea's season.

Image source, Getty Images

Hull City midfielder Darko Gyabi says he is a player who is looking to "make an impact" following his move from Leeds in the summer.

The 21-year-old joined Hull on a three-year deal, with the option of a further year, and has settled well since moving to the club.

"It's weird because a lot of the boys went away with national teams so coming in, you're meeting people bit by bit, but everyone's back now so it's been good to meet everyone and be on the training pitch," he told BBC Radio Humberside.

"Everyone's made me feel really welcome from the coaching staff to the players, the staff around have been really helpful, it's been easy to settle in and focus on playing football which is obviously what I'm here to do so it's been really helpful."

Gyabi will be in contention to make his debut for the Tigers as they travel to South Wales on Saturday to face Swansea City.

The midfielder is looking to make an instant impact at his new club.

"I'm a player who likes to make an impact in both boxes, I like to get on the ball, drive with the ball and create chances," he said.

"Something that I want to do this season is score more goals, give more assists and defensively I want to be solid as well.

"I want to bring a bit of joy on the pitch as a midfielder going both ways."

Gyabi spent much of his youth career at Manchester City before moving to Leeds in 2022.

"In terms of growing up as a person, I went to Leeds when I was 18 and now at 21 you learn from playing games, through the loan spells that I had so I think I've definitely gained more experience," he added.

"When I was at (Manchester) City, we played more attacking football and I like to get on the ball, I don't think that's changed."

The towering midfielder spent 18 months on loan at Plymouth Argyle making over 50 appearances.

That experience playing senior football helped him develop further.

"Even at Plymouth under the managers we had, the managers saw the quality that I had on the ball and what I could do going forward," he said.

"I think one of my biggest strengths is having the ball at my feet, driving forward and shooting so that's what I want to keep doing and keep improving."

Listen to the full interview and more on BBC Sounds.