Ryan Longman takes major step towards Hull City first team return

Ryan Longman took a major step towards his return to the first-team fold at Hull City after playing 70 minutes in the Under-21s 3-1 defeat against leaders Sheffield United at York City's LNER Stadium on Tuesday afternoon, a result which ended their incredible seven-game winning run in the Professional Development League.

Longman hasn't played a minute of action in the Championship season after suffering a dislocated shoulder in the final friendly of the summer at Reading in early August.

The return to fitness of the 24-year-old winger is a timely boost for boss Tim Walter with Liam Millar out for the season after damaging his anterior cruciate ligaments in his knee before the draw with Burnley last month.

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Longman had been expected to feature again for the Under-21s in their Premier League Cup game against Nottingham Forest at Loughborough University on Friday night with a view to him being involved in Walter's squad when their Championship campaign resumes after the international break at Luton Town on November 23, but will now be involved against West Brom on Sunday.

“He will come back stronger like he was before because he works hard and is such a good guy," Walter told Hull Live previously. "He is a good player and we need him. I hope he is better than before.”

There was also an important milestone for Dogukan Sinik, who played 55 minutes in North Yorkshire as he looks to make a return to the fold, more than 12 months after his last outing in Black and Amber.

City were beaten by the Blades in the top of the table clash in York, with Tyrell Sellars-Fleming, fresh from signing his new contract, scoring his sixth goal in the last three games.