Hull's hopes of a confidence-boosting EFL Cup win at Bristol City on Tuesday night have been dealt a blow as boss Mike Phelan waits to learn the full extent of Robert Snodgrass' ankle injury.
Snodgrass left the KCOM Stadium in a protective boot and on crutches after Saturday's fifth straight Premier League defeat against Stoke and to lose the Scotland international for an extended period would put another dent in Hull's sagging morale.
The winger has had a scan and is a major doubt for his side's fourth round tie at Ashton Gate, while defender Andrew Robertson (calf) was ruled out for two months last week and striker Dieumerci Mbokani is sidelined with a hamstring injury.
"We have lost players to injury and might have lost another one," Phelan revealed after Stoke midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri's superb double on Saturday had sent the Tigers into the bottom three.
"But we have to look at (Tuesday night) to gain some confidence, some rhythm to take into the league.
"We have a couple of promising young kids we will have a look at. Injuries are part of the game."
One of those could be 17-year-old defender Josh Tymon, an unused substitute on Saturday who has yet to make his league debut.
Phelan, who will be joined in the dug-out on Tuesday night by new assistant head coach Neil McDonald, will also be without defender Moses Odubajo for longer than anticipated.
Odubajo had been closing in on his comeback after reconstructive knee surgery in the summer, but fractured his patella last week during a non-contact incident in training.
On the plus side, skipper Michael Dawson made his first appearance of the season at the weekend after a knee injury, playing the full match.
"It was important he didn't come into a game where he felt he was playing catch-up," Phelan said of his captain. "Now he feels capable of playing for 90 minutes."
There had been grumblings among Hull's lowest Premier League crowd of the season against Stoke that Phelan had erred too much on the side of caution by playing Will Keane on his own up front.
Striker Abel Hernandez is pushing for a recall to the starting XI after stepping off the bench to replace David Meyler early in the second half.
"He looked hungry," Phelan said of Uruguay international Hernandez. "His attitude was good and he grasped the moment. What we are looking for is that consistency.
"Everybody expects Hull City can play 4-4-2 and take on the likes of Liverpool, Man Utd and all these teams.
"But we have to be reasonable in our assessment. But if we go three at the back then two up front is an option."
Phelan hopes to appoint "two or three" new members to his coaching staff this week, including a new assistant following Stephen Clemence's recent departure to team back up with Steve Bruce at Aston Villa.
"If we can get those done, the sooner the better," Phelan added. "Hopefully we will have a few people in by the end of the week."
Source: PA
