Tyler left out due to selection decisions
GRANT Mccann says Tyler Smith’s absence is down to selection, and not injury.
The summer signing from Sheffield United has not been included since starting Hull City’s 2-0 defeat at Huddersfield Town on October 16.
Smith was again left out of Mccann’s squad for Saturday’s 1-0 defeat to Coventry City, a third successive game he’s failed to feature.
Tom Eaves was handed a rare start, while Josh Magennis and Ryan Longman were named on the bench along with Mallik Wilks.
Magennis and Wilks both came on as City chased an equaliser in the closing stages to no avail.
Despite making it a ninth game without scoring in their opening 15 games, Mccann says Smith’s absence is down to the strength in depth he feels he has at his disposal.
“No reason, just selection,” Mccann told BBC Radio Humberside.
“We’ve got eight forwards at the football club and two of them are going to miss out every week. If Ryan Longman wasn’t on the bench, I’m sure you’d have asked me why Ryan Longman wasn’t involved, it’s just selection.
“The lad has had Covid, he’s had an injury and he’s getting back to fitness, we’re seeing him start to improve and that’s why we put him on the bench.”
City were also without influential midfielder George Honeyman, who missed the game through illness and Richie Smallwood was taken off at the interval after taking a heavy knock in the face, but Mccann is hopeful of both being available for the trip to West Brom tomorrow night.
“Richie’s got a nasty cut under his eye so we took him off at half-time,” he said.
“George has had a sickness and diarrhoea bug for the last few days, and been very weak. There’s no injury for George, he’ll be fine for Wednesday.”