Mike Phelan says Hull focused on MNF trip to Middlesbrough, not Manchester United
Thursday 1 December 2016 12:52, UK
Mike Phelan says Hull must park thoughts of Wembley and concentrate on the Premier League, starting with the Monday Night Football trip to Middlesbrough.
Tuesday night's penalty shoot-out defeat of Newcastle has landed Hull a two-legged EFL Cup semi-final with Manchester United, where Phelan spent time as a player and as Sir Alex Ferguson's right-hand man.
But the priority for the City boss is reversing a run of just one league win since August which means they will go to the Riverside in the bottom three.
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Defeat in the live Sky Sports game would cut Hull four points adrift of their hosts, and Phelan is demanding full concentration despite his excitement at the United draw.
"It's special," he said. "We've managed to get to the semi-final of this competition and this club has never achieved that before, so that is a step in the right direction.
"For me personally, it's also something special because I spent most of my career at Old Trafford as a player and as a coach.
"However, all of that might as well be a million miles away because we have a lot of important fixtures before we get to the first leg."
Goalkeeper Eldin Jakupovic was the Hull hero in midweek as he saved two Newcastle spot-kicks to stake a claim for the position occupied by David Marshall in recent league games.
Phelan joked he might play both at Boro and said: "I have two fit goalkeepers who are outstanding at the moment and one in the wings [Allan McGregor] who is recovering, so we're fortunate in that department."
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