The Tigers are back on home soil, looking for a big three points
Hull City’s starting line-up will be changed again this weekend (Image: Mark Sutton/Getty Images)
Hull City head coach Sergej Jakirovic will be forced into at least two changes to his starting line-up for Saturday’s home meeting with Birmingham City.
Cody Drameh is out for the season after sustaining another quad issue early on in Saturday’s defeat at Sheffield United, while John Lundstram serves a one-game ban for his red card late on at Bramall Lane.
Jakirovic has continually joked that he’s losing a player per game, and that’s the case again, albeit with two players missing for a crunch MKM Stadium showdown.
There is, however, good news with Ryan Giles and Yu Hirakawa returning from long-term injuries, while the squad is expected to be boosted by the return of Lewis Koumas and Toby Collyer after both were left out of the squad in South Yorkshire because of minor injury concerns.
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Giles’ return is particularly timely given Drameh’s absence, which could see skipper Lewie Coyle return to the right side of defence, having been operating on the left since Giles limped out of the win over Derby County in February. Matty Jacob will be assessed after taking a kick to his knee in midweek.
Should Giles not be risked, then if Jacob is passed fit, he could come in for Drameh to allow Coyle to switch, or Jakirovic could deploy Paddy McNair on the left, as he did at Wrexham. That may be more likely, knowing how cautious the manager is over his men returning from hamstring injuries. He may opt to start Giles and give him an hour.
In midfield, Lundstram’s enforced absence should see Collyer return to the fold. He was impressive on his full debut against Coventry City, but was unable to go again in the Steel City. Assuming he’s fine and there has been no issues, that move would make sense.
Darko Gyabi is back but is not expected to be able to start, while Eliot Matazo is also set to be on the bench and could make his first appearance in more than 12 months.
At the top of the pitch, there’s another big decision to be made with Joe Gelhardt dropped to the bench in Sheffield, but he will be pushing for a return. Liam Millar and Mo Belloumi both started that game, with Matt Crooks playing off Oli McBurnie. Both wingers going off didn’t help City, so it would be a surprise that after a clear week, it changed, given the importance of the game. Crooks could be deployed deeper if needed to bring Gelhardt back into the number 10 position.
That said, Jakirovic’s thinking may be influenced by the fact that his side face a big trip to struggling Leicester City the following Tuesday, before going to Charlton Athletic on Saturday week.
A good points haul in the next three games will go a long way to deciding what’s needed from the final day showdown against Norwich City.
City’s predicted XI to face the Blues: Pandur, McNair, Ajayi, Egan, Coyle, Amir, Collyer, Millar, Crooks, Belloumi, McBurnie.
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