Steve Bruce has been handed a boost as his Hull City side look to reverse a recent loss of form when they take on Newcastle United in Saturday’s early kick-off in the Barclays Premier League.
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Hull sit in the relegation zone having lost three of their past four league matches. A lengthy injury list has hindered Bruce over recent weeks but he has received good news with the return to training of Nikica Jelavic, Abel Hernandez, Gaston Ramirez and Andy Robertson, while Alex Bruce also has a chance of recovering in time for the visit of the Magpies.
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“It looks like we might have some back,” Bruce said. “We’ve been away for four or five days and managed to get some training into Jelavic, Hernandez and Robertson. You can add Ramirez to that list too.
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“It’s not ideal and we’d like another week for all of them if we’re being honest, but as long as they come through training today it looks as though they’ll be OK.”
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Defender James Chester is out after being forced to come off with a dislocated shoulder in the 3-0 defeat at West Ham United in Hull’s last Barclays Premier League fixture, while Mohamed Diame (knee), Liam Rosenior (hamstring) and Robert Snodgrass (knee) all remain sidelined.
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John Carver wants Newcastle to produce a repeat performance of last season’s rout at Hull City to claim their first victory under his management.
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Newcastle left the KC Stadium with three Barclays Premier League points courtesy of a 4-1 victory last March. Moussa Sissoko scored a brace and further goals from Loic Remy and Vurnon Anita rounded off the win.
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A similar showing would be a welcome relief to a Newcastle side who have failed to win any of the four matches Carver has overseen and they have lost three on the spin. But Carver, who has been confirmed as head coach until the end of the season, remains optimistic that victory on Saturday could be the catalyst for an upturn in fortunes.
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“Last season at Hull was one of our best performances of the season,” Carver said. “A similar performance and result will see a smile back on my face.
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“We’ve got 16 games left. Why can’t we go on a run? I’ve seen enough to suggest we can.”
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Carver, whose side have slipped to 11th, described his pride at taking the Newcastle role until at least May and stated that he is keen to fully implement his own ideas.
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“I’m so proud and honoured to be able to be head coach of a football club like this,” he added.
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“[Managing director] Lee Charnley and the board saw enough on the pitch of how we are trying to play, for them to be encouraged.
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“We’ve had a lot more team meetings and video every training session now. I have one or two different ideas, like anyone would.”
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Carver has been boosted by the returns of Gabriel Obertan and Mehdi Abeid from thigh and toe injuries respectively, while the match comes too soon for Siem de Jong (knee), who has been absent since August.
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In the reverse fixture earlier this season, Papiss Cisse’s late double denied Hull victory in a 2-2 draw in September.
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