Sergej Jakirovic has been talking ahead of Hull City facing Newcastle United.
A 3pm kick-off at St James’ Park on Saturday.
Sergej Jakirovic and Hull City have made an impressive start to the season with three wins, two draws and one defeat in all competitions.
They are unbeaten in the Premier League where they sit in fourth place on eight points.
Newcastle United will go above them if winning by two or more goals.
Sergej Jakirovic though with an ever growing injury list, the same as Matthias Jaissle.
The Hull boss confirming centre-back Nobel Mendy has joined the list of those unavailable: “He is in protocol, concussion protocol, so seven days off. After this he will go to the national team and everything is fine. He’s good, this is most important, he will miss this game.”
Amongst the other new Hull City injury problems if a former Newcastle United player.
Sergej Jakirovic revealing: “We have a few more problems in some positions. Matt Target two days ago twisted his ankle, so he’s questionable, and Hidemasa Morita is still out, so the plan is that he will join us after the first week of international break. And that’s it.”
Sergej Jakirovic going on to say: “We have a lot of international players which we are very proud of that but from the other side it will be very busy for them.”
The Tigers boss says that his side have shown they “can compete at this level.”
Referring to the last match when they deserved to win at Chelsea but had to settle for a point when the hosts equalised, Sergej Jakirovic: “I have said I’m happy with one point even a lot of people told me that maybe we should [have] won this game but I want to be grateful because every point in every game, especially in these demanding away games, it’s good for us. We will try to still be unbeaten but I’m expecting a very tough game especially after Newcastle’s defeat at Leeds.”
Jakirovic asked about the difficulty of keeping his players’ feet on the ground: “In every meeting we are speaking about expectation, about that we must stay on the ground, that we know our goal, to stay in the league no matter how many points we have because this season is a long season.”
The Hull City injury list of certain/possible absentees for the Newcastle United match:
Noel Mendy – Concussion
Charlie Hughes – Groin
Ilyas Ansah – Back
Matt Targett – Ankle
Jack Butland – Arm
Darko Gyabi – Groin
Eliot Matazo – Knee
Hidemasa Morita – Groin
Paddy McNair – Ankle