The Tigers have been busy in the winter window and that doesn't look like slowing up
Barry Cooper Hull City correspondent
05:00, 23 Jan 2026
Sergej Jakirović will have decisions to make once Toby Collyer arrives
View Image
Sergej Jakirović will have decisions to make once Toby Collyer arrives (Image: Robin Jones/Getty Images)
Sergej Jakirovic says he welcomes the selection headache that signing Toby Collyer will bring in the remaining weeks of the season as Hull City look to continue their surge towards promotion.
Collyer's move from Manchester United is expected to be confirmed in the next few days with the midfielder expected at the MKM Stadium to watch City host Swansea City on Saturday, as they look to back-up two impressive away wins at Southampton and Preston North End.
Once Collyer is in the door, it presents Jakirovic with something of a selection dilemma given the Tigers will have six loan players in their squad, but EFL rules state you can only pick five as part of a matchday squad.
City already have Joe Gelhardt, John Lundstram, Amir Hadziahmetovic, Joel Ndala and the recently arrived Yu Hirakawa, who capped his debut with a fine display and assist at Deepdale on Tuesday evening.
Lundstram has endured an injury-hit season and only returned after his latest spell out at St Mary's last weekend, while Gelhardt's eight-game absence was ended in midweek.
Paddy McNair and Kieran Dowell's imminent arrivals are expected to be confirmed in the near future, but both are permament moves so will not impact the club's loans, and there are no plans to reduce the existing loans.
"By the performance, by the form, by who is playing better," Jakirovic told Hull Live when asked how he'll manage the fact one player will have to be left out, assuming all six are fit and available at the same time.
"It's always who can help the team. There is also tactical issues, tactical plan, who will be more, I can say important for the team, but they are all important.
"For example, we had Lunny and Gelhardt, who were both out for a long time with injuries, so you can have maybe sometimes three or four in the squad. This is not a problem, this is a good worry for me."
On the subject of players potentially leaving after Kasey Palmer joined Luton Town on loan, Jakirovic says nothing is close with players keen to remain at the MKM Stadium for what could be a memorable second half of the campaign. "Right now, no. We have 12 days of the window left, so we will see."
Here at Hull Live , we are dedicated to bringing you the best Hull City coverage and analysis.
Make sure you don't miss out on the latest City news by joining our free WhatsApp group.
Article continues below
You can get all the breaking news and best analysis sent straight to your phone by clicking here to subscribe. You can also subscribe to our free newsletter service.