John Eustace wants John Buckley to stay at Blackburn Rovers in the January transfer window after insisting he has a role to play.
The midfielder has not started a Championship game this season and has been limited to sporadic appearances off the bench. The 25-year-old's career has stagnated in the last two years due to selection and unfortunate injuries.
A loan move to Sheffield Wednesday last season did not work out but given Buckley's lack of game time, he is a player with a question mark hanging over him approaching January.
Eustace wants the Academy graduate to stay, though and fight for his place.
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"I think John is a fantastic player and he's been a massive help for the squad, he loves the football club," Eustace told The Lancashire Telegraph.
"He really cares and he has been unfortunate that the two lads in there have done so well since we came back. John will get his minutes and play a vital role between now and the end of the season.
"We have had meetings and the same conversations that I had with him last season. When I came on, he'd been on loan at Sheffield Wednesday and hadn't had much game time.
"He came back in for us straight away and was very important to us staying up last year. He will play a key part in whatever we do this season.
"He is a unique player, he has qualities that the other two don't have. I don't want him to be different or do anything more, he just has to wait and be patient.
"It's about having the right balance of who we're playing against, where he can star. He came on as a 10 against Cardiff, he's played deeper too. John is a very good technical player and he can play a lot of different roles.
"When he has come off the bench, he has done very well. He has great quality, it's a 46-game season and we're not at halfway. He is a great player, I don't want him to go anywhere. I want him to be part of this group."
Lewis Travis' suspension will naturally open a spot in midfield for Buckley, with Lewis Baker and Joe Rankin-Costello also pushing to start.
The captain has started every Championship game to date alongside Sondre Tronstad and will be a big miss at Hull.
"It's always about the squad and players are looking to get in the team. There is competition every week in that midfield area," Eustace said.
"Sonny and Trav have been in there and done very well until now but that's because the other lads have pushed them too and want to play.
"They have done a very good job and stayed away from suspensions until now. The way they play, they're very competitive in there and they have managed their aggression very well during the games.
"We will miss him but whoever comes in will come in and want to do well."
Rovers have no fresh injuries to report for the trip to the MKM Stadium. Andi Weimann, Arnor Sigurdsson and Balazs Toth remains out.
Hayden Carter is still six weeks away, in the best case, whilst Scott Wharton remains a long-term absentee.
"The squad looks fine, Siggy and Andi are still out and missing. Balazs is still out as well," he said.
"Arnor is still a couple of weeks but we have to be very careful with him too. He came back three weeks ago and we pushed him a little bit too early.
"We have to build him up properly. It's important when he comes back next time he has to stay back.
"With Hayden, he is still a long way away. He won't be back until the end of January or even February. He is still a way off."
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