AP in an article in the Yorkshire Post discloses that there are 4 or 5 players who might not be ready for the start of the season. Also it could be round 5 or 6 before they will be back.

No point rushing them back. Be a few teams who have a few missing. And he did use the word Might

Chris Green obv one of them

…. plus westerman, mini and talanoa, who AP mentioned by name, and Bowden and...…

(Delays are due to an increase in post-operative infections.)

I wonder if Kelly has got the all-clear.

The club just posted a training video to their twitter feed and it looks like Kelly is in the thick of it.

Indeed he is.

Also looks like Matongo has got even bigger!

At least there's no middle 8's to worry about this year

nope, we will just be middle, about 8th though!

Season could be over my end of april if we have so many players missing early on and a tough start

Good job we have a big squad then.

Have a little faith Jake me old Fruit. The players reported missing are only players most wanted rid of anyway. Plus it aint that much of a tough start is it?

Squad looks pretty healthy judging by the video on the clubs twitter page.

We won't be the only team in SL starting the season with a few players not up to full fitness, not the big concern some make it out to be.
As we've thickened up our squad there's no need to rush players back until they're ready.
I certainly don't want this using as an excuse should our poor form continue.
Let's start the season with optimism and see where we go.

I agree,but a little concered at prop whilst Green and Bowden are fully fit
Can see us using Thompson as a regular starter on the bench to fill in as a front row in the early season games.

It's concerning to me that Radford is still the coach. He'll be the first coach fired this season.

Too right our most successful coach in 30 years, one average season after two trophies he should have gone.

I'm with Bombed Out, I'm starting to feel more positive about the season, I have a feeling the
whole club is after making amends from last season.

First game is key

Win a few early on and last season’s run of defeats will be quickly consigned to history, obviously. Even with Pearson downplaying expectations though, if you start slowly there’ll quickly be chuntering about about X wins since June 2018.

What would you regard as a good season for Hull, and what would be just acceptable, in 2018 - given a ‘normal’ season with injuries and other imponderables?

Personally I'd be happy with 5 - 6th. The challenge is on for the the average squad players that got bumped up contracts due to our success to actually justify their wages. Their contracts plus the financial shackles of our Stadium agreement gives us a larger hurdle to jump over than most teams, and makes any genuine success unlikely this season. If we do win something, it would be monumental. I suspect it's a season of transition though, with a massive turnaround of players next season - which is always exciting for the fans even if it doesn't bring immediate success. Although our critics that totally discounted our injury situation last season are absolute halfwits. We still have a great starting 13, and with a possible siege mentality gained from criticism from the likes of Schofield - anything could happen.

Like I say I'm not concerned come the start of the season, a clean slate for coach and players alike. However should we start the season in the same vein we finished the last then I will certainly be vexed and questioning the staff and their credentials.
Losses I can take but it's the manner of the defeat I can't.
Hope all at Hull are ready to hit the ground running with a point to prove.
Not too fussed with a cup run (income aside), I want to be challenging for the top 4 and a GF final place. We've been close in 2 of the last 3 seasons.
Looking to finish between 5th-8th or to accept that as a good finish is not acceptable to me. With the cap spend, support and players we have a GF assault has to be our goal.
Anything less is accepting declining mediocrity.

Happy new year.

I’d agree with that. 5th or above with the play-off place that comes with it would be good for you, and even 6th is top half and not bad. I agree it is a transitional season, and it’ll be interesting to see how that is managed and what the rebuild will look like.

I’m hopeful we’re actually starting a new cycle, but that hope probably clouds my judgement. I think 7th would be good for us and 8th not bad. It’s the least worried I have been during pre-season that i’ve been for a few years.

I'm not saying we are the best side in the comp but I think a lot of people are undermining the class we do have on our books. Connor, Kelly, Sneyd, Houghton,Taylor and Westerman who are all big game players. The youth will be better off in the development and the likes of Taylor finally have had a full pre season which is only a good thing.

Part of me thinks in hindsight that losing run will be one of the best things that have happened to us because after two successful seasons it brings them back down to earth and reignites that hunger for success. Anything less then 5th is a disaster IMO.

Will Mini or Manu move up to prop. Think Mini could be massive.

Part of me thinks in hindsight that losing run will be one of the best things that have happened to us because after two successful seasons it brings them back down to earth and reignites that hunger for success. Anything less then 5th is a disaster IMO.'"

I think like others 5th or above is our aim, I'd take 6th as long as we were in the running for 5th at the back end of the season, just don't want a nothing end like last year.

I think we have a decent chance of 4th/5th, but don't think quiet have the quality to win the GF, just lack a bit of pace and a forward IMO, Ive seen some oppisyion fans saying we have a great 17, but not much after, I would disagree with that we have a good 17, which some top quality (If fit) players, but I feel our strength this year in in our squad, I fancy the likes of Masi and Lane to be knocking on the door on the first team, we have players like Washy, Litten, Moulidi, Dawson, Scott, Thompson, Masi, Lane, Griffin and a few others would might not make the 17 if all were fit.

I think it will be a really tight season