Hull City assistant coach Dean Holden has provided an update on the chances of Tim Iroegbunam and David Akintola featuring against Sunderland in Tuesday’s Carabao Cup clash.
Iroegbunam joined Hull City from Everton shortly before the summer transfer window closed, but the midfielder has yet to make his debut for the newly promoted Premier League side.
The 23 year old was unavailable for Hull’s Premier League meeting with Aston Villa because of fitness concerns. However, he returned to group training on Monday and could now be in contention for minutes at the Stadium of Light.
Holden said the club would assess Iroegbunam after training before making a final decision on his involvement.
He will train today and we will see how he comes through the session. Hopefully, he can get some minutes tomorrow,” Holden told reporters.
The midfielder’s potential appearance will be closely watched by Nigerian football fans, with Iroegbunam eligible to represent the Super Eagles through his Nigerian heritage.
He spent last season with Everton, making 31 appearances across all competitions and providing three assists before completing his move to Hull.
The winger was left out of Hull City’s 25 man Premier League squad for the 2026/27 season, meaning the Carabao Cup could provide an opportunity for him to get competitive minutes.
Holden confirmed that Akintola has also been training with the first team, although he stopped short of guaranteeing the Nigerian eligible forward a place in the matchday squad.
Hull will travel to Sunderland looking to progress to the next round, with both Iroegbunam and Akintola hoping to convince the coaching staff that they deserve a chance.
