Defender Jordy de Wijswill be Hull City's only injury-enforced absentee for the visit of QPR to the KCOM Stadium on Saturday afternoon, Tigers manager Grant McCann has revealed.

de Wijs has started in every one of Hull's 11 league games this season up until now, scoring in a 2-2 draw with Cardiff City, but is now set to miss the clash with QPR after injuring his ankle in training, although McCann is hopeful the injury will not be long term.

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Speaking to the club's official website about de Wijs' injury, the Tigers' boss said: “It’s frustrating to lose Jordy because it was just the way somebody fell against his ankle and the way he had his foot planted.

“Thankfully it happened early in the international break and we’re pleased with the progress he’s made over the last six or seven days. The worst-case scenario is that he might miss the next two games."

Despite the setback, McCann is hopeful that de Wijs' injury could provide an opportunity for another member of his side to step forward, as he continued: “It gives an opportunity for Ryan Tafazolli and Matthew Pennington. They’ve both been really patient, trained well and their attitudes have been outstanding.”

Tafazolli has so far only featured four times in the league this season for Hull since joining from Peterborough in the summer, while Pennington has been restricted to just a single Championship appearance following his move from Everton over the close season.

Elsewhere, it was confirmed that both Callum Elder and Jon Toral are in contention to take part against QPR following their own injury problems.

Toral has made just two substitute appearances in the Championship for Hull this season - both of which came in August - while Elder's only appearance for the club since his summer move from Leicester came in a 2-2 draw with Wigan in mid-September, with the pair both training throughout the international break.

Hull go into the game with QPR 16th in the second-tier standings, with three wins and four draws from their opening 11 games of the Championship season.

The Verdict

I would imagine there will be pretty mixed sentiments about this at the KCOM Stadium.

While the loss of de Wijs is a frustrating one - considering his significant presence at the back for Hull - this is a big chance for someone else to step forward.

Having been made to wait their turn so far this season, you feel both Tafazolli and Pennington will be desperate to prove their worth on Saturday, which could help offset the loss of de Wijs.

Add to that the excitement about the potential returns of Toral and Elder, and it does seem as though there are still plenty of reasons for Hull to be optimistic going into this one.