Adkins: Hull need magic to test Chelsea
Nigel Adkins admits injury-hit Hull will “need a lot of magic” at Chelsea given their huge list of absentees for tomorrow’s FA Cup fifth-round encounter.
For a side dealing with a spate of issues on and off the field, the cup has provided some welcome respite for the Championship strugglers.
The FA Cup wins against Nottingham Forest and Blackburn have provided two of their three victories in 2018, but few expect the Tigers to add to that tally at Stamford Bridge. “We’ve probably got 12 on the injured list,” Hull boss Adkins said.
“So, it’s a challenging scenario that we’ve got. We’ve got to play players who probably won’t last the full 90 minutes, so how can we impact with the substitutions?
“It’s a shame because we’ve been on a consistent run at the moment. Our performances have been good and you’re trying to get a run of
form. “But, again, we’re going to have to change the team around again. We need a lot of magic to help us, let’s face it, because they’re an outstanding team. “We’re going there under no illusions but it’s the FA Cup and anything’s possible.”
The on-loan Chelsea trio of Michael Hector, Ola Aina and Fikayo Tomori are all ineligible, while ex-Sunderland midfielder Seb Larsson is suspended. Markus Henriksen, Ondrej Mazuch, Moses Odubajo and James Weir remain injured, while Abel Hernandez, Stephen Kingsley, Michael Dawson and Kamil Grosicki are coming back from issues of their own.
Adkins said: “They could be involved, but there is a chance they will not be involved.”