Tigers close to full strength for Reading clash

‘I WANT ALL THE STRIKERS TO GIVE ME HEADACHES’: Shota Arveladze. Picture credit: Hull City

By Simon Bristow

Hull City are fighting fit heading into their penultimate home game of the season against Reading on Saturday.

But the clash against Paul Ince’s Royals is likely to come too soon for midfielder Randell Williams, who trained with the squad on Friday but is still short of fitness.

The Tigers have no other injury concerns following the 2-1 defeat at Millwall on Easter Monday, but will expect a strong test from Reading, who are still one win away from safety in the Sky Bet Championship.

Speaking at an online press conference today, City boss Shota Arveladze said the full squad had trained together in the morning.

Asked whether Williams was likely to feature on Saturday, Arveladze said: “I think it’s still too soon … we have to be a little bit careful with him.”

IN CONTENTION: Striker Tom Eaves, who came off the bench to score at Millwall. Picture credit: Hull City

The manager said he was pleased striker Tom Eaves had given him a selection headache by coming off the bench to score at Millwall - an early redemption for Eaves after he was sent off in the home defeat to Huddersfield at the start of the month.

“I hope the strikers give me such headaches, coming and scoring, which is a good headache because I can always kill this headache, at least with a pill,” he said.

“This is what the strikers have to do, this is what the whole team wants from the strikers.”

Asked about Saturday’s opponents, Arveladze said: “I‘ve seen their last games. They way they play, this is a team who wants to play football from the back, they want to build.

“Good wings, good strikers, some good football, which gives us to think they will not just go and run and chase long balls. It’s a good mix of physical and playing football team, and you can see also the character they can deliver to the game.”

Arveladze said Easter was a “special week for Christians” and it is “thanks to God we are doing the job we love”.