Okocha, Hull mates told to show tigers’ character - Jay Jay misses play-off tie

Saliu Gbadamosi, with Agency report - 11.05.2008

FORMER Super Eagles captain, Austin 'Jay Jay' Okocha will miss Hull City's today Championship play-off semi-final game against Watford at Vicarage Road, even as City manager, Phil Brown has called on his charges to show real Tigers' character today.

Reports say the ex-Nigerian international will not be part of City's team due to a kneen injury but could be back for the return tie at the KC Stadium on Wednesday.

"Jay-Jay (Okocha) has worked as hard as I've ever seen anybody work with regards to the physio, but he's not trained with the first team so I think he is not going to be available for Sunday," Brown told Teamtalk.com.

Meanwhile, Brown has called for the character in his Hull squad to come to the fore during against Watford.

The Tigers narrowly missed out on automatic promotion and now head to Vicarage Road for the first leg desperate not to let a remarkable season end in further heartbreak.

"Strength of character is now important," said Brown."When the going is tough your characters stand up and are counted and I think we've got enough strength of character in our changing room.

"The job in hand is making sure we've got something to hang on to coming away from Vicarage Road and bringing them back to fortress KC Stadium, which is easier said than done."

Brown has helped stave off the threat of relegation last season and has since transformed the Tigers' fortunes by masterminded a third place finish but Watford stands in between the club and playing in the glamorous English Premiership next season.

"It's never over [in play-offs]. I was beaten 3-0 at home by Bradford [in May 1996 while playing for Blackpool] having beaten Bradford 2-0 at Valley Parade in one play-off.

"I've been to Wembley and been beaten in the final, I've been to Wembley and won in the final.”