Clucas back as Hull offer stiff test to Stags

Premier League new boys Hull City '“ including ex-Stags star Sam Clucas - should provide Mansfield Town with a stern test in Stags' latest pre-season friendly at One Call Stadium tomorrow night (7.30pm).
Adama Diomande celebrates his opening goal with Sam Clucas.
Hull City v Wolverhampton Wanderers. Skybet Championship. KC Stadium.  15 April, 2016.  Picture Bruce RollinsonAdama Diomande celebrates his opening goal with Sam Clucas.
Hull City v Wolverhampton Wanderers. Skybet Championship. KC Stadium.  15 April, 2016.  Picture Bruce Rollinson
Adama Diomande celebrates his opening goal with Sam Clucas. Hull City v Wolverhampton Wanderers. Skybet Championship. KC Stadium. 15 April, 2016. Picture Bruce Rollinson

After some impressive displays against non-League opposition, boss Adam Murray said he wanted to see his side tested defensively against bigger clubs.

But Saturday’s excellent 2-1 home friendly win against League One Bolton Wanderers saw Stags dominate much of the game.

However, if Steve Bruce plays a side like the one he turned out for Friday’s 0-0 draw at Grimsby Town, Murray should get his wish, the Hull manager naming a strong starting XI, packed with regulars from the Tigers team that won promotion to the Premier League via the Championship play-offs last season.

But Bruce does have some worrying summer injuries.

The Tigers who have just returned from a training camp in Portugal, are already without goalkeeper Allan McGregor , still missing with the back injury which ruled him out of the Championship play-offs last season, and defender Alex Bruce, son of manager Steve, who has an Achilles injury.

Striker Adama Diomande and right-back Brian Lenihan are also missing after picking up knocks in Portugal.

Then at Grimsby on Friday former Leyton Orient right back Moses Oduabjo limped off with a suspected dislocated kneecap.

“Moses will be like anyone when you pick up an injury,” Bruce told the club’s official web site.

“We just hope, fingers crossed, that he’ll be okay.

“We need confirmation on whether he dislocated it or not. We’ll know that by scans. We need to find out if has been dislocated and whether there’s been damaged ligaments.

“If it has then it’s not great. I don’t want to pre-judge anything but it doesn’t look great as we stand.”

It will be a first return to the One Call for Clucas, 25, who left Stags in September to help local rivals Chesterfield to the play-off spots before his fairytale £1.3 million move to Hull a year ago.

Murray’s main concern tomorrow will centre on Jack Thomas, who has been suffering tendonitis.

Mal Benning picked up a first half knock on Saturday and came off but is said to be fine now.

With having a small squad, Murray has said he will be taking no chances but the club said today the manager was ‘expected to utilise all of his first team squad tomorrow.’

Tickets for the Hull visit are available online (www.stagstickets.co.uk), in person from the ticket office on Quarry Lane or over the telephone (01623 482 482).

Prices are as follows:

In advance

Adults: £10

Concessions: £5

On matchday

Adult: £12

Concessions: £6