Hull City suffers attacker blow before Birmingham City match

Hull City anticipate to be without Aaron Connolly for their home game against Birmingham City on Tuesday night.

The former Brighton striker missed Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Preston after suffering a dead leg against West Brom the previous weekend.

That was his latest setback in a season that has seen him play only 48 minutes since January 12 and make only 13 starts in 35 games.

Tigers head coach Liam Rosenior said after the stalemate at Deepdale: “The frustrating part for me with Aaron was the dead leg because we scheduled the game on Tuesday to sharpen up the bench players, to sharpen up the players who hadn’t got much time on the field.

“I need all of the squad’s players to be ready to come in and press and play at the level that we want now at the conclusion of the season, so Aaron missed that game and needs to regain his health.

“In my opinion, he needs to improve his sharpness. It is not his fault that he trains the way he does. He simply hasn’t had a run of games. If you’re not fit and we have a fully fit squad, you must get fit, and that’s the way it is. We’ll see; he’s working extremely hard, and we’ll make that decision on Monday (whether Connolly will appear on Tuesday).”

Adama Traore is also doubtful after missing out at Deepdale, although striker Noah Ohio has returned to the matchday squad after missing out against Albion and Southampton.

Abdulkadir Omur was moved to the bench against Preston. Rosenior remarked, “I spoke with Abdush this week. He has acclimated really well.

“He’s tired because of his level, the games he played at Trabzon – he hasn’t played many games, and he’s come here and played two 60-minute games, and he’s trained really, really hard, probably at double the intensity that he’s used to in Turkey.

“We had a very wonderful talk. He stated, ‘Gaffer, I’m feeling it’. So I said, ‘No problem’. Regan [Slater] was already on my mind when I started the game because I believe you need to exert control. That’s the point; I’m extremely fortunate. One, I have a good squad, and two, they’re pretty much all fit, so those are the decisions I have to make game by game, but that bench may alter again on Tuesday.”