Gaston Ramirez and Sone Aluko could provide a boost for manager Steve Bruce this week with both players having an outside chance of being fit to face West Ham United on Sunday. Despite initially being ruled out for up to six weeks, Ramirez is making a quicker than expected recovery from a groin problem picked up against Everton on New Year’s Day while Aluko is also progressing well after missing the weekend defeat at West Brom with a calf injury. Meanwhile, scans have shown that Nikica Jelavic sustained no serious damage to his knee at West Brom on Saturday although he is expected to be sidelined for between three and six weeks. Abel Hernandez, who also pulled up during the defeat at The Hawthorns, has a small grade two tear of his adductor muscle, for which the normal recovery timeframe is around four to six weeks. Mohamed Diame continues to make progress six weeks after limping out of the 1-1 draw at Everton with a knee complaint. The midfielder is now out of a knee brace and has been given the green light to step up his rehabilitation, although an estimated return date has yet to be decided upon. Andrew Robertson is on track to return from his ankle injury at the end of this month while Liam Rosenior remains in the early stages of a ten to twelve-week recovery period from a hamstring problem picked up on New Year’s Day. Robert Snodgrass, injured on the opening day of the season at Queens Park Rangers, continues to make progress in his recovery from a dislocated kneecap although it has now been confirmed that he won’t return to action before the start of next season. Brian Lenihan, who returned from a loan spell with Blackpool in late November due to injury, is expected to be back in action in around four weeks. http://www.hullcitytigers.com/news/...or-snodgrass-2200327.aspx#fPb8o9cFTA4Hcwvd.99
Pretty grim reading that. Need to be careful with Jelavic. I was amazed how quick he came back from the original knee problem he picked up at Arsenal, perhaps a bit too quickly and we are taking risks on players due to our predicament.
The fact that the club are talking about Ramirez possibly being available on Sunday, suggests we have not agreed to cancel his loan.
It's unlikely but we could do with Sunday's game to be a victim of the weather. Clear week-end after that and then hopefully 3/4 players back for Newcastle.
Don't have too much of an issue with Ramirez he at least looks to be a bit more forward thinking than Aluko, albeit a bit lightweight. Needs must.
The problem is, despite their qualities, neither of them are strikers. However, looking back at the Sunderland game, we had no strikers on the pitch until about 10 minutes to go, and comfortably won the game. West Ham haven't won in the past 5 games, although they have come up against some decent teams, Swansea, Arsenal, Chelsea, etc. They also have a cup reply to contend with this week against Everton, which may help us. They maybe a little tired for our game, which could help us with our game plan of counter attacking, which is how I presume we will play, like Sunderland away.
Being in mind thr injuries we got to have Ramirez back it a big plus, was starting to play well when he got injuried.
It sounds like we are rushing them back. I can understand the urgency but it hasn't helped us in the past.
Aluko and Ramirez won't make any difference. We've already got plenty of midfielders to play up front. None of them are anything like effective up front, so it doesn't matter if it's a those two or Ince and Brady. Either way we haven't got a striker and whoever plays up front will look ****.
Well the front 2 at Sunderland were Aluko and Ramirez and we scored 3 goals. We have a problem when the opposition sets out against us to defend and make us attack them and that's exactly what happened at home v Leicester and away at WBA,when Pearson and Pullis played their usual boring tactics, to frustrate us and pinch 1-0 wins
The trouble with those players is not only are they not able to be target men but none are the typ to run in behind and stretch them, they all come short for the ball. Allardyce will just push right up and squeeze the play.
Bloody hell, it's like the roll call at Rorke's Drift. Good observation; we need him. How about forgetting the bad selections, the need for some signings and all of the name-change ****e and just looking for the positives and getting behind the lads; sometimes that is what is needed in football and now is the time, PLT.
