Hull City boss Liam Rosenior is hopeful Ozan Tufan will be available to face Leeds United tomorrow.
Rosenior was speaking to Hull Live ahead of Leeds’ trip to the MKM Stadium on Wednesday night, where he provided a positive update on the fitness of the 28-year-old midfielder.
The two side’s enter tomorrow’s fixture in good form with the home side currently sat fifth in the table having not lost since the opening day defeat at Norwich City.
Leeds, meanwhile, are beginning to gather some momentum under Daniel Farke with seven points from their last three matches, including Sunday’s impressive 3-0 win at Millwall.
Hull have been without Tufan for their last two games due to a thigh problem but has since returned to training ahead of the clash with Leeds.
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Tufan had been key to Hull’s positive start to the season with four goals in the first four matches, including a hattrick in the win over Sheffield Wednesday.
Despite his importance to the team, though, Rosenior will not risk Tufan unless he is 100% fit, but is feeling confident after his return to training.
He said: “Nothing new, which is great. Ozan will train again today (Monday). He had another session on Saturday, he’s looking good. I’ll assess him today and then we’ll train again tomorrow and I’ll see where he’s at for Wednesday.
“We did it with Allahyar last season at Wigan and he was out for another four months afterwards, and I was devastated for him. It’s really important, especially with a muscle injury. It’s the risk and reward is something not just myself, but Andrew (Balderston) the head of performance, the fitness coaches, the physios, we’re all liaising every single day.
“Having Ozan Tufan in my team and in my squad makes us a better team and a better squad but what I don’t want to do is lose him for four months for risking him. He’s desperate to get back, he’s had an unbelievable start to the season but I want him for the full season, so that’s a decision we’ll make. If he’s fit enough, he’ll be part of the team and a part of the squad for Wednesday.”
Tufan is clearly one of Hull’s key players though they have fared well without him in the last couple of games, having won at Leicester City, and drawn with Coventry City.
Wednesday is set to provide Leeds with another big test with Hull possessing a number of attacking players who could hurt them, and so a second consecutive win on the road would be another statement of intent.