Hull City manager Serjej Jakirovic has expressed concern over the possibility of Super Eagles defender Semi Ajayi suffering another fitness setback while on national team duty with Nigeria, Footynaija.com reports.
Ajayi has been named in the latest Super Eagles squad by Eric Chelle ahead of Nigeria’s international friendly fixtures against Jordan and Iran in Antalya, Turkey later this month.
However, the 32-year-old central defender only returned to competitive action a couple of weeks ago after suffering a hamstring injury while representing the Super Eagles of Nigeria at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco earlier this year.
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This has left Hull City manager Jakirovic with mixed feelings as Ajayi as well as other key members of his squad gear up to go and represent their various countries for the next couple of weeks.
“It’s good we have a two-week break,” Jakirovic told BBC Radio Humberside.
“(But) We have eight international players and I hope they get some minutes but it’s more important they stay healthy.”
“We may have some problems when they return from the international games – Ivor Pandur (Croatia) is in South America, Semi Ajayi (Nigeria ) is in Jordan, and Liam Miller is with Canada in Toronto so that could be a problem but we will see when they come back.
“I understand the World Cup is coming and the players want to be on their list and it is a big dream for them. We are proud of our international players.”
Before the players depart to join up with their respective national teams, Hull City welcome EFL Championship bottom feeders Sheffield Wednesday to the MKM Stadium on Saturday as they look to bounce back from a disappointing 3-0 defeat to West Bromwich Albion in their last outing, and consolidate their position in the Premier League promotion play-off places.
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