Hull City head coach Nigel Adkins has said everyone has their part to play in the club’s run towards the end of the season, including Abel Hernandez who continues building his fitness following injury.
With five games in 18 days before the end of February beginning with Saturday’s trip to the City Ground to face Nottingham Forest, we also have ties against Middlesbrough, Sheffield United, Barnsley and the FA tie against Chelsea and Adkins knows that everyone in the group is likely to be called upon at some point before we hit March.
Speaking to the Official Site as he met with the media this week, the gaffer explained that it wasn’t so much a case of considering changes, he knew some changes had to be made so people got enough recovery time.
‘I think when you look at our fixtures and the run that we have, we`re not going to pick the same team two games running. The recovery time between games is going to be so limited for the exertion that we put in because we`re a high-energy side. With that in mind, everybody has got to come to the party and work very hard whether that`s from the start or making an impact from the bench. Everybody is pulling in the same direction and that is an important message. We`re working hard for the group.’
Speaking directly about preparations for Nottingham Forest, he went on to say.
‘Preparations are good and there is a good spirit in the camp. We`ve analysed last weekend`s game, had a debrief, taken the lessons from it and we move on to Nottingham Forest now. Training has been good and focussed as we strive to improve on everything that we do, and we look forward to Saturday.’
Hernandez was also in front of the media this week as he continues to build his fitness following six months out injured, and the 27 year old said he’s relishing the opportunity to get back on the pitch and help us turn the season around.
Hernandez scored three times in three appearances at the beginning of the year before suffering his Achilles problem and whilst we’re unlikely to see him this month, March could see a return date.
‘My rehab is going well and I’m going to be back out training with my team-mates again soon which I’m really happy about. It has been a very difficult period and the first two months were particularly hard. Football is my life and I couldn`t do something that was my passion. Little by little, I began to feel a bit better and started working hard in training to recover as quickly as possible.’
He went on to say that finding little things he could do to help his recovery or even just help keep a baseline of some fitness became his focus as he knew it would all count for something down the line.
‘I could not turn back time, but I could do things to be better. I focused on that and in giving my full-effort in my recovery. From the third month, things were changing. I saw progress every day and this gave me something to focus on. It has been a difficult time but thankfully it is about to come to an end. The worst is behind me. It has gone fairly quick and now I am on the last step before I return to what I want to do the most. My objective is to be out there on the pitch, supporting my team-mates in this difficult campaign.’
Hernandez was confident that we could turn our season around though.
‘The Championship is very tough but, as a team, we have great players to get ourselves out of the situation. It is important that the Club stays in this division and my aim is to play a part in making that happen.’
