Hull City injury latest as summer signing ruled out for next four games
Tim Walter says midfielder Regan Slater is a doubt for Friday night’s trip to Stoke City after picking up a shoulder problem which could see him miss the trip to Staffordshire.
The midfielder, who came off the bench in the second half of last Friday’s loss to Sheffield United, will be assessed ahead of a crucial game as City look to earn a first win of the season.
City will be boosted by the return of loan goalkeeper Carl Rushworth after he missed out last weekend with a bruised knee, while recent signing Steven Alzate could be named in the squad for the first time, though Walter says he's still not ready to start a game.
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Summer signing Charlie Hughes will not return until after the international break after undergoing surgery earlier this week to remove his Appendix, while Ryan Longman, Dogukan Sinik and Andy Smith remain sidelined, though Longman and Sinik are continuing their recovery in non-contact training.
"Maybe Regan a bit with his shoulder. He felt (pain) on the shoulder but the rest are all fine," Walter told Hull Live before going on to explain the latest with Hughes.
"Charlie is really frustrating for me as well for him, because he has had Appendix surgery and for us, it's really frustrating to not have him. He's such a good boy, and he's such a good player, so I missed him, really. I wish he was here and he soon will be back, so I wish him all the best in this way, I'm in touch all the time with him. Hopefully only four weeks," he added when the young defender may be available again.
"Carl (Rushworth) trained for the whole week and we will see for the weekend. He had a bruise next to the knee and it hurts if you fall on the floor like him as a goalkeeper. He's (Alzate) also not fit enough to start, but maybe it's an option for the squad, so that could be, but he has not the fitness for the starting 11. They're ready - maybe without Stephen - and are fit to start."
Walter is acutely aware of the growing frustration amongst supporters, but after watching the game back four times and going through it with his analysts, remains confident his side are on the right track, and benefitted from a clear week on the training pitch.
"It has been really brilliant, to be honest," the German said. "We tried to turn our frustration into motivation for the next game and that's how we did.
"We have one week more with the new lads and that helped us a lot that they get to know each other much better and then it's important. You have some situations where the players are new and they don't know what the other is going to do, and so that helped us, especially this week.
"We are all frustrated, but it doesn't help us. More worries didn't help us. I can understand the fans who are worried about us, me also, but like I mentioned, the frustration can help you to be more motivated for the next game and this mentality that you are always positive about the development about the play and the game and to have more of the ball and create chances, I think that's the way.
"I can see all of my players, they are very open and they are very happy to be more comfortable with the ball and playing more with the ball. All we need is just a better connection, especially maybe the full-backs with the wingers, or maybe the centre half with the number six, so that you have more connection between the positions and that's what we're trying to do."
Stoke have changed manager since the weekend with Narcis Pelach replacing Steven Schumacher who was sacked on Monday, and took charge of his first training session on Wednesday.
Despite the change in manager, Walter says he doesn't expect big change from what the Potters have been doing before, instead only minor tweaks given the short turnaround, and he's not worried about any possible new manager bounce for the Potters.
"You can't influence it," he continued. "For us, it's all about our game. We know everything about the opponents, maybe they will change it a bit, but it's a short time to change. You have the habit that you have, and you can't change it in maybe two sessions or one session, that's not possible, so they they will play how they played before maybe with a small adaptation. We know how to do it, but for us, it's more important than how we play in possession and to press them down like we did last week."