Hull City rocked by double new signing blow ahead of Stoke City trip

Charlie Hughes missed the 2-0 defeat to Sheffield United through illness
-Credit: (Image: James Marsh/REX/Shutterstock)


Hull City have been dealt a double blow after both Carl Rushworth and Charlie Hughes missed Friday night's 2-0 home defeat to Sheffield United.

Rushworth, who signed on transfer deadline day from Brighton was absent from City's squad because of what Tim Walter described as a 'bruise' while Hughes was admitted to hospital on Friday with a stomach complaint, believed to be in his appendix.

It's hoped Rushworth will be available for the visit to the Potteries as City look to try and finally end their ever-increasing run without victory under their new manager, but the prognosis on Hughes looks less positive at this stage, though the German head coach was keen to avoid placing any specific timescales.

READ MORE: Tim Walter offers verdict on Hull City's Sheffield United loss and his late booking

"That's really bad," Walter told Hull Live. "He is in the hospital because he has problems with his stomach and yesterday (Thursday) it began. Unfortunately, he is not in the squad and I'm very unhappy and I hope he will soon be better. We don't know more because he is still in the hospital and we have to wait."

"He (Rushworth) is also a bit injured and that's the reason why we take care of him as well. He has a small bruise and then we have to be careful. Yes, he can (be available for Friday night's trip to Stoke City)."

Gustavo Puerta was on the bench at Leeds United prior to the international break but was absent from the latest 2-0 loss, but Walter says his omission was purely selection-based.

"No (he wasn't injured), it's just a choice of myself and that's the way it works. We have a big squad and everybody can do it and can show me every day in the training session that they want to play and they want to be in the squad. To be honest, he's also young boy, and he is not long over here, so he has to improve himself and I will help him so that's the reason."