Robert Koren 'refreshed' for Hull City's match with Blackburn Rovers
HULL City boss Steve Bruce says he will be able to call upon a refreshed Robert Koren when the Tigers look to complete a hat-trick of home wins as Blackburn Rovers visit the KC Stadium tomorrow night.
City’s influential captain and second top scorer was dropped to the bench for a Championship fixture for only the second time in his Tigers’ career as a valuable 1-0 win was secured against Charlton on Saturday.
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Robert Koren was a substitute in Hull City's win over Charlton
The last time Koren was named as a substitute for a league game was his City debut at Millwall in August 2010.
Only defender James Chester has started more league games than the playmaker this season and Bruce pointed towards fatigue as a factor in the veteran’s noticeable dip in form since the turn of the year.
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A lively cameo in the final 19 minutes of Saturday’s win showed Koren’s creative guile has not diminished and Bruce has left the door open for his return tomorrow.
“It’s quite simple really, Robbie Koren has played as much as anyone this season,” Bruce explained.
“Statistics tell me over the last couple of games that fatigue has set in a little bit and with a game on Tuesday we needed to freshen him up.
“You can’t play to a level in this league and expect to play well every game, especially when you’re a forward who needs a bit of energy.
“Sometimes a rest is just what you need and he’ll come back into my plans for Tuesday.”
Koren’s omission has set the stage for deadline-day signing Gedo to flourish.
As well as making way for the Egyptian at half-time in the 2-1 win over Derby on Tuesday, with Gedo scoring 90 seconds later, the new signing was back on the scoresheet to sink Charlton with the only goal of the game.
Gedo’s impact has delighted Bruce and he said: “He’s got a bit of everything. He’s quick, he’s a good size and he holds it up very well. He’s shown he knows where the goal is too.
“You don’t have the record he’s got for Egypt if you’re a mug.
“It’s a football-mad nation and you’ve got to have something about you to play for them.
“It’s been a wonderful start but the challenge is to maintain it now. Can he come and adapt and perform consistently?
“Having his mates here will help and the owner will make his life as easy as he possibly can.”
Gedo was joined by fellow Al Ahly loan recruit Ahmed Fathi for the final third of Saturday’s win.
Fathi replaced Paul McShane, whose hamstring injury looks set to rule him out of facing Blackburn, to play as a holding midfielder on his debut and Bruce accepts his introduction may require more patience.
“He found it tough because it’s never easy coming on as sub,” he added.
“He’ll have to get used to the tempo. He’s used to having players play in front of him rather than ‘crash’ over your head. He got lost a little bit, but overall I feel he did okay.”
• Gallery: The best pictures from Hull City's win over Charlton
16 Comments
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by Alantf
Monday, February 18 2013, 6:43PM
“Hi Costatiger, I think you have picked the bones out of the encounter, although I would have been happier with Paul McShane in our defence to be confident that we will minimise their attack. I think we can win this in the midfield, who will have to with our wide runs and searching crosses. Gedo will be the fox who will terrorise the box - something we have lacked since school milk was abolished ;) and that will stretch them; if we can finish more of the chances we have always created then we will win, so I predict a game with goals in it and it will be the team whose forwards finish that come out winners - it is notable the number of high scoring games from our rivals.”
by costatiger
Monday, February 18 2013, 3:31PM
“I think everybody would have been pleased with seven points from our trilogy of home fixtures and having claimed maximum so far,tomorrows visitors represent our biggest test of the three.
We have a poor history against them and have failed to win in at least our last five encounters
and they look to have the makings of this seasons team to burst from the pack with a late run,as one normally does each year.They possess quality throughout the side and will come to the KC full of confidence after their cup victory at Arsenal, but this represents a fantastic opportunity for our "soldiers" Chester,Hobbs and Bruce to test themselves against dangerous strikers with a display of real quality defending.If they can keep out Rhodes,Campbell and Bentley and hit them on the break,i think one goal will be enough, as this has all the makings of a tense,tight affair and anything better than 1-1 would be a massive bonus!!”
by tigertim53
Monday, February 18 2013, 2:52PM
“ah thats explains loads he is a Leicester follower well well well ( I hope his runs dry) thx TigRob”
by qualitychap
Monday, February 18 2013, 2:51PM
“make no mistake Koren is a match winner,he is not a forward,but has been asked to do a job up front for the good of the team,Koren needs to be behind the front 2,where he can get shooting opportunities.
Blackburn will be on a high,city must start fast and get them on the back foot,a very stiff test for us,everyone has to be at there best,if they are city can get a result.UTT”
by cafesociety1
Monday, February 18 2013, 2:32PM
“If we can avoid running the legs off Gedo and Aluko returns we could have a formidable attack.
I thought Fathi ,for someone not match fit,looked to have all the right attributes to govern a match.
Merlin.Mine says LLLLL=the longest place name in Wales.Unfortunately all very lower case.”
by OaktownTiger
Monday, February 18 2013, 1:29PM
“well regardless Bruce is going to play Bruce so maybe the McShane injury solves the holding midfielder problem, Evans comes in and Bruce drops into the back three
Stockdale
Chester, Hobbs, Bruce
Evans
Elmo, Meyler, Quinn, Brady
Koren, Gedo
I think Simpson needs to understand as a striker no goals = the bench”
by Jason_3
Monday, February 18 2013, 12:31PM
“Everyone spot on with media comments.
I think, until Aluko is back, I think city should jig the formation slightly.
I would play 3 at the back as usual, but then have 4 across the middle with elmo n brady wide, and sit koren and meyler in the middle,
then 3 in attck, maybe a wide or a narrow shape, with gedo leading a line, with Simo and maybe even Stewart or Proswich too (they need agems to gain consistancy),
but not too sure, but I think when Aluko is back, that may also be an option too, to play aluko and simo wide of Gedo.”
by bdinspain
Monday, February 18 2013, 11:44AM
“Another honest set of comments from the Manager - how refreshing. With respect to the media coverage, it suits me fine. Let them talk about Leicester and co., show their matches in detail and give City minimal exposure and comment. Hull City do not need the limelight to succeed, just 3 points per match no matter how achieved . That will ensure a reasonable coverage of each of City's game next season in "Match of The Day". They will still be able to give Leicester and co. penty of exposure in "The Football League Show"next season.”
by tigrob
Monday, February 18 2013, 11:29AM
“Tigertim53
you do realise who Manish Bhasin supports dont you its LIECESTER CITY!! explains a lot.”
by Alantf
Monday, February 18 2013, 10:35AM
“Koren has a bucket full of talent but I think his motivation, as well as his energy levels is sometimes a problem; the secret is to catch his mood on the up for that matchwinning performance.”