Hull confirm Radford return

James Gordon

Hull have called former captain and current assistant coach Lee Radford out of retirement for Friday’s derby clash with Hull KR.

Peter Gentle has seen his squad hit with injury from virtually day one of the season, and Tony Martin (neck), Eamon O’Carroll (knee) and Chris Green (ribs) have added to the list of players on the sidelines.

It means a return to the side for Radford, who last played for the club in the 42-10 play-off defeat to Leeds last September.

Recent signing from Leeds, Jay Pitts, is in line to make his debut while Australian full-back Wade McKinnon looks set to return after missing a few games with a groin injury.

Kirk Yeaman is also fit again having recovered from a foot operation, and could be a direct replacement for Martin from the team that beat Bradford last time out.

Hull 19-man squad v Hull KR: Aspinwall, Briscoe, Bowden, Ellis, Horne, Houghton, Kent, Lynch, Manu, McKinnon, Nicklas, Pitts, Radford, Seymour, Sharp, Tickle, Turner, Whiting, Yeaman