Bozenik scored his first goal for the club after 39 minutes but left the pitch in tears early in the second half following an injury that left the Slovakia international needing oxygen.

Robins said: “It’s a dislocated shoulder and it’s not looking great.

“He went to hospital in a significant amount of distress and pain, so we’ll have to see what the outcome of that is.

“I thought he’s been looking like a proper striker and has been working towards that.

“It’s another blow and we’ll just have to see how that is.”

Bozenik’s injury was the one black spot on an otherwise fine afternoon for Stoke.

The Potters have now won five times on the bounce at the MKM Stadium, but arrived in East Yorkshire as big underdogs as Hull began the day two points off the automatic promotion places.

Bozenik’s goal, an easy tap-in at the back post after good work on the right from Lamine Cisse, set the tone for what was a controlled display from the visitors.

Hull struck the crossbar in the first half when Charlie Hughes followed up Regan Slater’s corner that nearly caught out goalkeeper Tommy Simkin.

They came even closer in stoppage time as Kasey Palmer thundered the ball against the right-hand frame of the woodwork from the edge of the penalty area.

But Stoke kept Hull – on a high after four wins in five – at arm’s length throughout a match in which Simkin was seldom tested.

Robins said: “They are all big games, but this once felt particularly big due to the build-up to the game and the fact we’ve got an almost cobbled-together squad.

“We should have gone at least 2-0 up before their chance, but Kasey can do that. It somehow stayed out, but that’s the only bit of luck we’ve had for a long time.”

Hull head coach Sergej Jakirovic challenged his side to purposefully respond at home to Watford on Sunday.

He said: “We didn’t play like we wanted, especially in the first half – lots of long balls and lots of aerial challenges.

“For Stoke, it was very easy to defend. We didn’t even try to play in possession and did not have enough creativity.

“I expected this type of game. I always thought it would be one goal (that would settle the match).

“I am expecting a tough game against Watford but right now we must wait to see who will be available.

“We will prepare and do our best and try to pick up points.

“In the second half we tried everything and switched the system, but this is the Championship, and the players have to accept it.

“It’s not easy at the moment, but you don’t have time to analyse so we will try to find that energy and freshness from somewhere.”