Hull City manager Sergej Jakirovic has spoken about his squad's condition and ongoing transfer business ahead of Saturday's Premier League fixture against Coventry City. The Tigers travel to the CBS Arena for Coventry's first home top-flight match in 25 years, as reported by sports.yahoo.com this week.
Sergej Jakirovic confirmed his entire squad trained on Thursday and is ready for the weekend. "We are fine. All these players had a training session today. We are all completely fine. So, we are ready for Saturday," the Hull boss said. His team selection will be boosted by having the same group available that secured an opening-day victory over Manchester United.
What are Hull City's transfer targets?
Hull City are actively working to conclude deals before the transfer window closes. The club is close to signing forward Mohamed-Ali Cho, having agreed terms with an announcement expected imminently. Another forward, Ilyas Ansah, is scheduled for a medical check on Friday.
Jakirovic made a light-hearted remark about the process. "I can't wait to finish this transfer window, to be honest," he joked. He declined to comment on reported interest in Brentford's Fabio Carvalho. Hull's activity follows significant summer spending, with Jakirovic noting his club has invested £144m in the market.
How did Hull prepare for this match?
Hull City enter the match following a midweek Carabao Cup penalty shootout victory over Stoke City. Jakirovic used that fixture to rotate his squad entirely, giving playing time to new arrivals and others needing minutes. He stated the primary goal was to offer players opportunities to demonstrate their potential.
This preparation contrasts with Coventry City's challenging start to the Premier League season. Mark Robins's side currently sits 17th in the table with zero points from two games, having suffered defeats in both. They have yet to score a league goal this term, conceding four for a -4 goal difference. You can view the full standings for the latest league positions.
What did Jakirovic say about Coventry City?
The Hull manager acknowledged the significance of the occasion for the home side. He expects a full stadium at the CBS Arena for Coventry's long-awaited Premier League return. Jakirovic also recognized that Coventry have added quality in certain positions during a busy transfer window, which he estimated involved spending around £260m to £270m.
Despite the financial figures, Jakirovic emphasized that money alone does not decide matches. "Money does not score goals, players do," he stated, adding his belief that Hull can be a dangerous and competitive team. He anticipates Coventry will grow stronger as the season progresses and perform better than they did in their recent game against Arsenal.
What is Coventry City's current situation?
Coventry's search for a first win is hampered by several absences. Key players Haji Wright, Kaine Kesler-Hayden, and Luke Woolfenden are currently sidelined, as shown on our injuries page. This presents a significant challenge for Robins as he prepares his team for a demanding schedule.
Following the Hull match, Coventry face a daunting trip to league leaders Manchester City on September 5th. That fixture is part of a tough run of games you can track on our fixtures schedule. The Sky Blues are already six points behind Manchester City in the early title race, adding urgency to their need for a positive result this weekend.
