Hull wait on Boateng news

Posted Saturday, April 10, 2010 by PA

George Boateng has been given a 45% chance of playing in Hull's Barclays Premier League relegation battle with Burnley.

The Holland international was carried off on a stretcher in last Saturday's loss to Stoke after being struck in the face by Tuncay Sanli's overhead kick, but scans and X-rays were clear and Tigers boss Iain Dowie is waiting to see if the midfielder shrugs off any sign of concussion.

Republic of Ireland winger Stephen Hunt is still struggling to shake off a foot problem and is almost certainly out, but Ibrahima Sonko returns after missing the defeat at parent club Stoke and Andy Dawson is in contention to start after returning to the bench at the Britannia Stadium following a hamstring problem.

Dawson is adamant complacency will not creep in despite the Tigers entertaining the side with the worst away record in the Premier League.

Four of the Tigers' six remaining fixtures will take place at the KC Stadium, with matches against Aston Villa, Sunderland, Liverpool and first Burnley.

The Clarets have one point from 16 matches away from home this season and will be cast adrift at least six points from safety with defeat at Hull, who could give their survival hopes a welcome boost with a seventh home win of the season.

Hull's away form is similarly woeful - with four draws and no wins - and Dawson believes survival hinges on building on their impressive 2-0 win over Fulham in Iain Dowie's first home match in charge.

Dawson said: "It all depends on us. If we start getting results at home now I think we'll bring a few back into it.

"Our away form hasn't been good enough this season, we all know that.

"With four home games, two away, the majority of those points have got to come at home."

Hull currently occupy the final place in the relegation zone, one point behind West Ham, but with a game in hand on all their relegation rivals.

If the Hammers fail to beat Sunderland at home and Hull win, the Tigers would climb out of the relegation zone for the first time since February and put pressure on Wigan, Bolton and Wolves at the foot of the table.

"We know what three points can do for us," said Dawson.

"It would be a massive boost and hopefully get us out of the bottom three."

Steve Caldwell could make his return for Burnley after a near four-month absence from the first team.

Caldwell, the club captain, has not played in the Barclays Premier League since December due to groin and abdominal problems but has appeared for the reserves twice in the last fortnight and is pushing for a recall to Brian Laws' starting XI.

Stephen Jordan's knee injury means he is still a doubt for the game at the KC Stadium, while Chris McCann remains sidelined with his own knee problem.

Laws has confirmed that Kevin McDonald will be included in the squad after the midfielder was fined for leaving Turf Moor without permission at half-time during last weekend's 6-1 defeat to Manchester City.