Who will Mccann choose to fill void left by Smallwood?
HULL-LIVE.CO.UK
Hull City were this week rocked by the news that influential midfielder Richie Smallwood will almost certainly miss the remainder of the league season with a knee injury. Smallwood has been a key part of City’s renaissance as they look to secure promotion back to the Championship at the first attempt, so his absence will be keenly felt both on and off the pitch.
The City skipper was clattered by keeper George Long in the early stages of Saturday’s defeat at Burton Albion, with Monday’s scan revealing he’d damaged the medial ligament in his right knee.
City boss Grant Mccann hinted yesterday the former Blackburn man could make a surprise return before the end of the campaign, but the likelihood at this stage is he will be forced to sit the remaining 19 games out.
So, what of the other options available to Mccann? Here we take a look at those who could step up and do their bit...
Regan Slater
Arrived on loan from Sheffield United in the summer to much expectation, though has failed to have any real impact, having been restricted to bits and pieces here and there.
Slater has started just three league games, coming off the bench on 10 other occasions to cover for injury with his solitary goal coming in the 3-1 win at Bristol Rovers.
Clearly a neat and tidy player, the 21-yearold looks a distance short of being given regular football in the side at City, and it does beg the question as to why his development was prioritised over that of Dan Batty who has since been allowed to move away on a permanent deal.
Unlikely to be given Smallwood’s role on a permanent basis, unless there’s further injury or suspension problems, and will therefore find it hard to build and sustain any momentum.
Jordan Flores
The X-factor of the group if you like because we’re yet to see him in proper action.
Signed in January from Irish side Dundalk, Flores has so far had just one cameo from the bench following his arrival.
There’s obviously talent in there as he showed against Arsenal in the Europa League back in December, but with a lack of match action since, it could be classed as something of a risk to throw him straight in to the heat of battle.
That said, Mccann knew his lack of match fitness when he signed him and at some point will have to take a calculated risk if he’s to get anything out of the midfielder other than him keeping a seat warm in the stands.
Alfie Jones
Of all the players in the squad, Jones is the one best-suited to the role.
Quietly going about his business following the summer move to the KCOM, Jones has been a reliable and industrious performer, whether operating in defence or midfield, the sort of player every manager loves to have at his disposal.
Arguably, City look a much more equipped team with Jones in it and his impending return to fitness is a huge bonus to Mccann, who will almost certainly deploy the 23-yearold Bristolian in Smallwood’s position.
The only concern surrounding Jones is his own fitness after yet another spell on the sidelines and if anything, it will be that which curtails his progress, not lack of ability.
Mccann will be hoping Jones can get back to fitness as quickly as possible and remain injury-free for the remainder of the campaign because that would certainly solve a problem.
Callum Jones
The talented Welsh youngster is another to have suffered with injury problems.
Impressive on the occasions he’s played, lengthy spells away from the pitch have seen him suffer and miss out on opportunities.
Once he’s recovered from his latest injury setback, Jones’ availability will be a welcome boost to Mccann’s options in the centre of the park, though it would be hard to imagine him coming in and starting regularly at this stage.
Greg Docherty
The Scot’s form has gone to a different level in recent weeks as he becomes a focal point in the City midfield.
To get the best out of Docherty, he needs to be afforded the space and freedom to have a positive impact in the top half of the pitch, but if needs must, he can drop into that deeplying defensive roll and cover.
There are other options available to the manager before he needs to lose Docherty’s influence going forward.
George Honeyman
Similar to Docherty, if needs must, Honeyman can operate in that position as the pair did to an extent against Lincoln on Tuesday night.
But to take Honeyman and Docherty out of their respective roles is to diminish their effect on the game in an attacking sense, and given City’s problems this month in terms of goals that would seem somewhat self-defeating.
Honeyman’s at his best when he’s driving through midfield and looking to create something going forward.
Lewie Coyle
Primarily a right-back by nature, Coyle has experience of playing in midfield having done so under Joey Barton at Fleetwood Town, so it wouldn’t come as a shock to the 25-year-old.
Coyle has good positional awareness, understands the game as well as anyone in the squad and would be more than capable of slotting into that role between now and the end of the campaign.
While Alfie Jones would be the preferred option to slot into Smallwood’s role, Coyle is the other option which would also allow Mccann to find a way to have both Coyle and Emmanuel in the side, which would be no bad thing.
One final thing...
While the transfer window has closed, there does however, remain the possibility of tapping into the free transfer market for extra cover.
The Tigers are able to bring players in that are unattached to a club, and with the scrapping of the EFL salary cap this week, their finances could be utilised to add further to their ranks.