The Tigers boss has plenty of options to consider this weekend
Ryan Giles was back in action for Hull City on Tuesday night (Image: George Wood/Getty Images)
Ryan Giles is pushing for a return to Hull City’s starting XI when they host Bristol City on Saturday, looking to further strengthen their place in the top six.
Giles made his return from a five-week absence in the second half of City’s goalless draw against Watford on Tuesday night, after recovering from a hamstring injury he sustained early on at Middlesbrough just after Christmas.
Matty Jacob was handed a first City start for 12 months in midweek and performed well, but the return of Giles gives Sergej Jakirovic an extra attacking weapon.
Elsewhere, John Lundstram could come back into the starting XI, and there could be a Tigers debut for Toby Collyer as Jakirovic looks to try and solve his midfield concerns.
City have been really poor with the ball in their last two games, but despite that, they’ve kept successive clean sheets in the 1-0 win at Blackburn Rovers and the stalemate against the Hornets.
Jakirovic’s side have also missed the pressing and energy of Kyle Joseph, so he could return to the starting line-up, with Yu Hirakawa unavailable under the terms of his loan from the Ashton Gate outfit.
Joe Gelhardt has not looked anywhere near his best since returning from his own injury lay-off, and at the end of a three-game week, the City boss may look to freshen things up again on the flanks with Liam Millar returning to the first eleven, or a full debut for Lewis Koumas.
City have struggled to create chances for Oli McBurnie in the past couple of games, and generally at home so far in 2026, and that will be something the Tigers gaffer will be looking to try and change. City will still be without the influential Matt Crooks, Semi Ajayi, Mo Belloumi and Eliot Matazo.
City’s predicted XI: Pandur, Giles, Hughes, Egan, Coyle, Collyer, Slater, Lundstram, Joseph, Gelhardt, McBurnie.
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