Daniel Jebbison in action for the Under-21s earlier this month. _(Image: Alan Cozzi/Watford FC)_
Apart from an hour-long run-out for the Under-21s, Daniel Jebbison has not played since November 8.
The striker has amassed only nine minutes in the first team since October 19, and has not even been on the bench in the last four Championship fixtures.
He didn’t play for the Under-21s at Swansea on Monday night, and was not among the substitutes at Hull although he was part of the squad.
“Jebbison travelled with us for today, but we also have to respect the job Mamadou Doumbia is doing,” said Tom Cleverley.
“It is really close between those two for who has that spot on the bench, and Rocco can also play through the middle.”
The England Under-21 international has made only nine appearances totalling 245 minutes since joining on loan from Bournemouth in August.
“It’s a transfer we all know hasn’t worked out how we wanted it to so far, but none of us are giving up on it,” Cleverley stressed.
“Jebbo has a great attitude to improve, and with his work in training in the last 10 days he can count himself a little bit unlucky not to be on the bench tonight.
“He is in competition with other young quality players.”
Cleverley admitted his team did not create enough chances at Hull.
“In the first half especially we should have created more for our good play up to the box,” he said.
“We’ve done well to come away with a point and we do have clinical finishers, especially off the bench.
“But we want to be giving ourselves more chance to score goals.
“It’s that fine balance of not opening up too much at the back, which we’ve been guilty of.
“We’ve scored plenty of goals this season, conceded a few too many and now the balance has tipped the other way a bit.
“It’s my job to find the perfect spot.”