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John Cartwright outlines Hull FC selection stance as club prepare for York Acorn tie

Hull FC head coach John Cartwright.
-Credit:Hull FC


John Cartwright won’t play any Hull FC player with a ‘niggle’ in the Challenge Cup next week. The Black and Whites take on York Acorn on neutral territory, with the two sides meeting at Featherstone Rovers’ Millennium Stadium on Saturday 8 February.

The third round cup tie will be Cartwright’s first competitive fixture in charge of the club and Hull’s first against community club opposition since their tie against Ellenborough back in 1998. And while some players will be left out on a precautionary basis, the Aussie will pay the National Conference League side the ultimate respect, with the full club treating it like they would any other.

Speaking to Hull Live, Cartwright admitted that he will play a ‘majority’ first team side, with many of Hull’s new signings set to feature. They will be joined by some young players, with youth standing out alongside experience as the Airlie Birds defeated Castleford Tigers 16-10 in their one and only pre-season fixture.

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"We'll have a talk about it in training,” Cartwright said post-match. “We'll name a side later in the week, but nobody with any niggles will play.

“We're not going in thinking that it's going to be an easy game. Games that are full-whack are worth a truckload of training sessions. There will be a fair majority of first-team out there playing.”

In the meantime, Hull will enter their final week of pre-season training on Monday in pretty good nick. Ed Chamberlain was their only injury issue from the Castleford game, with the player rolling his ankle in the first half. Jed Cartwright also limped off the field, but Cartwright confirmed to Hull Live that the back rower is okay, while Yusuf Aydin will also be available after serving a one-match suspension.

On the injury front, the club remain without Davy Litten (MCL), Jack Charles (ankle), Matty Laidlaw (MCL), Nick Staveley (ACL), and Roman Dawson (ACL). Oliver Holmes will be monitoring having taken a precautionary stance on a knee injury from his time at Leigh Leopards this pre-season.