Ryan Longman could return to the Hull City squad for Sunday’s FA Cup tie with Doncaster Rovers while, as expected, goalkeeper Carl Rushworth will be involved.

The winger, who continues to attract interest from clubs, including Scottish outfit Hearts, has been sidelined since hurting his groin after scoring the winning goal at Blackburn Rovers at the end of last month.

Having Longman back will be a welcome boost to head coach Ruben Selles, who is already without a host of players through injury and suspension. Alhough Matt Crooks has become the first signing of the January window, he won’t be involved against Grant McCann ’s Rovers in the high-noon clash.

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Longman's return is not the only boost to Selles' injury-hit squad, with Rushworth in line to make his Tigers debut against the team from South Yorkshire, though none of their other long-term absentees will return.

Rushworth arrived from Premier League Brighton and Hove Albion on deadline day back in late summer and then picked up an ankle injury before he was set to make his Championship debut in the game against Sunderland in late October. But a frustrating period is set to end with him likely to start against McCann's men.

"We have (Ryan) Longman back to training today (Friday), so let's see if there is enough with those two days of training to be available for the game, but it looked OK," Selles told Hull Live.

"Carl has been in training for the entire week, so he will be available for selection on the weekend, and that's all the team news that we have. We'll make the decision, but he's a good goalkeeper. He's here with us, and we think he has good qualities and abilities, and it can be a possibility (for him to start)."

City have not progressed past the third round for five years. Given the momentum last weekend's pulsating draw with Leeds United gave them, Selles is desperate to back that up with a victory against Rovers, who have history against the Tigers. McCann's side came from a goal down to knock their higher-level opponents out of the Carabao Cup last season and then thumped Tim Walter's outfit 4-0 this summer, so the Spaniard will be taking nothing for granted.

"I have a good feeling about the about the FA Cup," Selles continued. "I want to progress. I want to approach the competition in the best way we can. It's always a good feeling when you go to the next round. It's a good feeling when you get to the final stages.

"In the situation where we are having that extra game, having that extra motivation can be a plus for us. I always want to win the game that is in front of me, so that is a good challenge.

"We work with the mentality that the next game is the most important game; that is how we work now. It's the FA Cup, and we want to go through to the next round. We want to be competitive, and we want to continue building up with the components of the games that you play against a team that is in the lower category.

"Everyone considers it a must-win, so that adds another component that was not there against Leeds United, and we need to learn how to manage those moments together. It's a challenge in front of us, and then we need to be at our absolute very best.

"We always prepare those games in the same way we prepare every single game in the season. We already played two rounds (beat Fleetwood and Harborough Town with Reading) in the FA Cup this season. It was really difficult before we arrived here, so we know how much it costs for that kind of game, and we need to be at our best if we want to go to the next round."

McCann's Rovers are seventh in League Two and occupy the final play-off spot, but sit just two points off the automatic promotion spots, so congested is the fourth tier. Rovers come into the game smarting after a 2-1 home loss to Port Vale last time out.

"I think it's a good team in League Two; they have been really competitive," he said of Rovers. "I have read about the recent history with us. It's always difficult. I have been knocked out before by teams from the third division and even lower divisions; it is never pleasant. Sometimes things happen, and as I say, we need to be at our absolute best.

"We know some players that played against us last season in League One, and they always have talent. We will need to be at our absolute best to beat them."