Hull City Team News - Soccer

Joe Gelhardt - Returns off bench in cup defeat Gelhardt (ankle) returned to action in Tuesday's 1-0 Carabao Cup defeat to Sunderland.

Impact Gelhardt made his first appearance since returning to Hull City after an ankle issue delayed the start of his season. The forward had a major opportunity to equalize late in the match but sent Sorba Thomas' cross over the bar from close range. After scoring 15 goals in 42 Championship appearances last season, Gelhardt should provide another option in attack once he has rebuilt his match fitness, with his 31-minute outing against Sunderland representing a first step back into competitive action.

9 HOURS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Matt Crooks - Returns with 59-minute outing Crooks (quadriceps) played 59 minutes in Tuesday's 1-0 Carabao Cup defeat to Sunderland.

Impact Crooks returned to action after a quadriceps injury kept him out against Aston Villa, completing 59 minutes and recording two tackles. The midfielder started Hull's opening two Premier League matches before his absence and, now back available, should remain a regular option in midfield moving forward.

10 HOURS AGO • ROTOWIRE

John Egan - Picks up lower leg issue Egan picked up a lower leg issue following a collision during Tuesday's Carabao Cup defeat to Sunderland, according to coach Sergej Jakirovic, per Hull Live. "Yeah, he had a blast...

Impact Egan was able to complete the match despite appearing uncomfortable following the second-half collision, and he will undergo further assessment to determine the extent of the issue. The defender has been a key part of Hull's back line, playing every minute of the club's opening three Premier League matches this season. Any absence would therefore represent a notable loss, with Lucas Herrington and Paddy McNair among the options who could see increased minutes at center-back.

15 HOURS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Nobel Mendy - Plays first half in cup tie Mendy played 45 minutes in Tuesday's Carabao Cup defeat to Sunderland before being replaced at halftime, with coach Sergej Jakirovic confirming the substitution was planned, per Hu...

Impact Mendy partnered Lucas Herrington at center-back and delivered a solid display during his 45 minutes on the pitch. The halftime withdrawal was not injury-related, with manager Sergej Jakirovic confirming it was part of the plan for the defender. Mendy has now been substituted in each of his four appearances this season, suggesting Hull are continuing to manage his minutes rather than consistently asking him to complete full matches.

15 HOURS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Paddy McNair - Will train Thursday McNair (foot) will return to training Thursday after his scan came back clean, according to manager Sergej Jakirovic.

Impact McNair didn't play Tuesday against Sunderland, but the clean scan was the best possible outcome for the defender. McNair could be in contention for a role in the squad Saturday against Chelsea, but the defender is merely a depth piece for the Tigers, so he shouldn't carry a ton of fantasy appeal, especially if the other center-backs remain healthy.

1 DAY AGO • ROTOWIRE

Tim Iroegbunam - Doesn't play Tuesday Iroegbunam didn't play in Tuesday's EFL Cup match against Sunderland since he's still ramping up his fitness levels, according to manager Sergej Jakirovic.

Impact The former Everton midfielder is expected to see regular minutes in midfield once he's ready to play, and the Tigers are being extremely cautious with him in terms of his potential debut. but if he proves to be fit enough, he could see minutes off the bench when Hull City take on Chelsea this Saturday at Stamford Bridge.

1 DAY AGO • ROTOWIRE

Brooke Norton-Cuffy - Dealing with calf injury Norton-Cuffy is not in the squad for Tuesday's EFL Cup match against Sunderland due to a calf injury, Mike White of BBC Humberside Sport reports.

Impact Norton-Cuffy didn't make the squad for this cup tie, meaning he's yet to make his debut with the Tigers, but the calf injury isn't expected to be serious. He trained Tuesday morning, so the wing-back might have an outside shot at making the squad for Saturday's game at Chelsea when the Premier League resumes.

1 DAY AGO • ROTOWIRE

Oscar Zambrano - Option off bench Tuesday Zambrano (hamstring) is on the bench for Tuesday's EFL Cup match against Sunderland.

Impact Zambrano is set to make his season debut with the Tigers if he comes off the bench, but even if he doesn't play, this is already a positive development for the young Ecuadorian midfielder. Zambrano should be a depth option in midfield going forward, so he's not expected to carry significant fantasy upside for the time being.

1 DAY AGO • ROTOWIRE

Joe Gelhardt - Makes bench in EFL Cup Gelhardt (ankle) is on the bench for Tuesday's EFL Cup match against Sunderland.

Impact Gelhardt had resumed full training last week, and while the draw against Villa this past weekend came too soon for him, the striker will be an option off the bench for this Cup tie. Gelhardt scored 15 goals in 42 matches in the 2025/26 Championship season.

1 DAY AGO • ROTOWIRE

Matt Crooks - Starting in EFL Cup Crooks (quadriceps) is in the starting lineup for Tuesday's EFL Cup match against Sunderland.

Impact Crooks trained Monday and has been included in the starting XI right away. The midfielder, who started in the Tigers' first two EPL matches before missing the scoreless draw versus Aston Villa last Sunday due to a quad problem, should remain a regular in midfield as long as he stays healthy.

1 DAY AGO • ROTOWIRE

Paddy McNair - No results from scan yet McNair sustained a foot injury, and the results of the scan he underwent aren't available yet, according to assistant manager Dean Holden.

Impact McNair isn't expected to be available for the Carabao Cup match Sunderland, and the results of the scan will paint a clearer picture regarding his timeline. His absence shouldn't create a huge issue in fantasy, however, as McNair is merely a depth piece in the Tigers' backline.

2 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Tim Iroegbunam - Could make debuts in EFL Cup Iroegbunam will train Monday with a view to being involved with his new club in Tuesday's EFL Cup clash against Sunderland, according to James Hoggarth of BBC Humberside Sport.

Impact Iroegbunam recently joined Hull City from Everton, where he made 47 league appearances over the past two seasons, and this training session marks an early step toward a potential debut. He figures to compete with Hidemasa Morita, Matt Crooks and Regan Slater for playing time in a revamped Hull midfield.

2 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Matt Crooks - Set to train ahead of Sunderland trip Crooks (quadriceps) will train Monday with a view to being involved in Tuesday's EFL Cup clash against Sunderland, according to James Hoggarth of BBC Humberside Sport.

Impact Crooks had been sidelined against Aston Villa due to a precautionary decision after a quadriceps issue, and his planned involvement in training now positions him to potentially feature in the cup tie. His eventual return to the starting lineup could lead to a reduction in Lucas Gourna-Douath's playing time as Hull continues managing its midfield options.

2 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Hidemasa Morita - Expected to miss two weeks Morita is unlikely to see action in the next league games against Chelsea and Newcastle as he deals with an injury, per manager Sergej Jakirovic, Eddie Lyons of Hayters.com reports...

Impact Morita has logged only 45 minutes of Premier League play since moving to the Tigers for the 2026/27 campaign, with injuries keeping him out potentially until after the next international break. Losing the midfielder has been a tough blow to the squad's depth, although his role in the rotation is not clearly defined yet. All of Regan Slater, Matt Crooks (quadriceps) and Lucas Gourna-Douath will be the main options in the central zone until the Japanese is ready to play.

2 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Matt Crooks - Left out as precaution Crooks (quadriceps) was sidelined Saturday against Aston Villa due to a precautionary decision and is expected to take part in the third EFL Cup round versus Sunderland, coach Serg...

Impact Crooks looks set to avoid an extended absence and could soon play a major role in Hull City's midfield after recording 90 minutes of action in the 2026/27 Premier League opener before suffering the injury. His fantasy value comes mostly from ball recovery numbers, but he could also have playmaking upside in some fixtures. His eventual return to the starting lineup could lead to a reduction in Lucas Gourna-Douath's playing time.

2 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Ilyas Ansah - Set for six-week absence Ansah (back) won't be available for at least six weeks due to a spinal problem, with coach Sergej Jakirovic revealing the expected timeline. "Six weeks out, this is the minimum. It...

Impact Ansah signed a five-year contract with Hull after joining from Union Berlin during the latest transfer window, but his debut for his new club will apparently be delayed until the final months of 2026. The young forward is still considered for a depth role behind Oliver McBurnie and Mohamed-Ali Cho, and it would seem the team will give him as much time as he needs to recover before putting him back on the field.

2 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Ryan Giles - Eight crosses in clean sheet Giles had eight crosses (one accurate) and two chances created in Saturday's 0-0 draw versus Aston Villa.

Impact Giles is the most adventurous defender in the Hull back line, a different proposition to Lewis Coyle on the opposite side, and he very nearly ended the game with an assist when he picked out Oli McBurnie for the biggest chance of the game, although the forward was unable to convert. The left back created two chances against Villa and has managed at least one in each of the last three games, with 21 crosses over that run and a shot of his own to go with it. He registered eight assists last season, and that attacking end alongside the clean sheet potential in this Hull defence could make him a valuable option.

3 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Oli McBurnie - Still waiting for first goal McBurnie registered three shots (zero on goal) and one chance created in Saturday's 0-0 draw against Aston Villa.

Impact McBurnie could not get off the mark against Villa despite three shots, the last of them the biggest chance of the match in stoppage time that would have sealed the win. The Scot scored 17 goals in the Championship last season but has yet to translate that into the Premier League, which is no great surprise in a Hull team that commits little to attack and leans on its defence against tougher opponents. He has still created a chance in every game for four in total to go with five shots in the opening three, and the contract extension he signed days ago along with the full 90 minutes here points to a player who may remain trusted.

3 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Regan Slater - Two shots in draw Slater had two shots (one on goal), two crosses (zero accurate) and two corners in Saturday's 0-0 draw against Aston Villa.

Impact Slater has been the constant in Hull's midfield through the opening three games and has now completed the full 90 minutes in each of them. His attacking involvement peaked against Villa with two shots from distance and a short corner pass that led to Mohamed Belloumi hitting the woodwork, but his large share of set-piece responsibility, which already earned him an assist in the first game, is the part most likely to bring returns rather than any volume from open play. His passing totals have stayed modest, with no more than 20 completed in any match, while he has chipped in with six tackles, two interceptions and three clearances.

3 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Mohamed Belloumi - Hits woodwork Saturday Belloumi recorded two shots (one on goal), one cross (zero accurate) and one corner in Saturday's 0-0 draw against Aston Villa.

Impact Belloumi was electric on his first appearance since signing his new contract and stood out as the most dangerous player in a Hull side that rarely pushes numbers forward. His dribbling gave Villa no peace, while he created a chance for a teammate and came inches away from scoring when a superb effort came back off the woodwork. He also delivered six interceptions, three tackles, one clearance and one block, which is remarkable output for an attacking player. A first goal still eludes him after five shots despite the assist he collected in his last outing, while his defensive tally now stands at nine tackles, nine interceptions and three clearances, with at least two tackles in each of the opening three games.

3 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Lucas Gourna-Douath - Strong full debut Gourna-Douath registered one tackle (zero won), one clearance and two interceptions in Saturday's 0-0 draw against Aston Villa. In addition, he was given a yellow card in the 67th...

Impact Gourna-Douath stepped in for his league full debut against Villa after coming on for Hidemasa Morita at the break in the previous game. He was excellent on the defensive side of the ball with two tackles, two interceptions, a clearance and a block in midfield, and he was tidy enough going the other way to have a hand in two chances for team mates. With Morita out injured and doubt over Matt Crooks, he could get another start against Chelsea.

3 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Nobel Mendy - Solid defensively in another clean sheet Mendy had two shots (one on goal) and one cross (zero accurate) in Saturday's 0-0 draw versus Aston Villa.

Impact Mendy played on the front foot against Villa with three tackles won, two interceptions, four clearances and a block, while his aggressive physicality was enough to invite a penalty shout more than once. The center-back also likes to break forward with the ball and has now taken four shots across the first three games, with at least one in each match. He has made five tackles, two interceptions, 21 clearances and four blocks overall. Mendy lasted 71 minutes as his workload continues to be managed, but this was the first time he came through a match without a physical issue. The center-back has been superb to open the season and was part of a solid back line that kept its third straight clean sheet.

3 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Konstantinos Tzolakis - Third straight clean sheet Tzolakis recorded one save and allowed zero goals in Saturday's 0-0 draw against Aston Villa.

Impact Tzolakis was not made to work anywhere near as hard as he had been in the first two rounds and had only a George Hemmings strike to deal with. It proved enough for a third clean sheet in a row, extending a superb start to both his Hull career and his time in the Premier League. Sterner examination awaits at Stamford Bridge, where Chelsea are next up in the league.

3 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

John Egan - Strong display in another shutout Egan had three tackles (zero won), one clearance and two interceptions in Saturday's 0-0 draw against Aston Villa.

Impact Egan came through another evening without conceding as Hull made it three clean sheets from three. He put in three tackles, two interceptions, a clearance and a blocked shot against Villa in a strong defensive showing, and the centre back is now up to five tackles, four interceptions and four blocked shots for the season. The single clearance was the one dip in his numbers after he had racked up 27 of them in the first two games.

3 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Semi Ajayi - Helps Hull keep another clean sheet Ajayi registered one cross (zero accurate) and one tackle in Saturday's 0-0 draw against Aston Villa. In addition, he was given a yellow card in the 39th minute.

Impact Ajayi has been a central figure in a Hull backline that has now shut the door in three games running. He recorded one tackle, one interception and four clearances in the goalless draw with Villa, taking his season tally to three tackles, three interceptions and 14 clearances, along with the goal that opened Hull's league account.

3 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

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