Marco Silva says Hull's main priority is Ryan Mason's recovery
Wednesday 25 January 2017 20:16, UK
Hull head coach Marco Silva admits Ryan Mason's head injury has put a different perspective on his challenge to keep the club in the Premier League.
Midfielder Mason is currently making "excellent progress" in St Mary's Hospital in London after surgery on Sunday night to repair his fractured skull, sustained after a clash of heads with Gary Cahill during Hull's defeat at Chelsea earlier that day.
The Tigers take a break from their top-flight survival battle on Thursday when they bid to overhaul a 2-0 deficit from the first leg of their EFL Cup semi-final against Manchester United.
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But Silva insists the club's main priority is to maintain its support of Mason and his family as the England international recovers.
"At this moment we need to forget everything," Silva told a press conference before United's visit to the KCOM Stadium. "The most important is the player and his family, the other things are not important."
Hull return to London at the weekend for their FA Cup clash at Sky Bet Championship side Fulham and Silva said he would take the opportunity to visit Mason before Sunday's fourth-round tie.
"After the game it's impossible for me because everything is fast," Silva added. "Our staff will be dealing with the players.
"It's not easy in this moment and the player has visitors, but sure on Saturday I will be there.
"It's important to support the player and his family, of course it's not an easy moment for us, the team. But we need to be strong, to be together, to keep the players together and support Ryan - that's the most important (thing)."
On Wednesday, Hull accepted a bid in the region of £10m for Robert Snodgrass from Burnley, according to Sky sources.
Following last week's departure of midfielder Jake Livermore to West Brom for a similar fee, plus the loss of Mason, Silva admits he must move quickly to bring in replacements before the transfer window closes.
"It's clear we need players in those positions," the 39-year-old manager added. "When I came I had in my mind when I started training and started to analyse our games, I had one opinion.
"During these last four games some things have happened, some injuries also, and Jake has left and we need to pay attention to these situations also.
"We need to do our best in this window for these positions and for the other positions also."
