The Tigers will aim to win a second successive game for the first time in more than 12 months
Hull City head coach Sergej Jakirovic will be forced into at least one change for Saturday’s return to action against Birmingham City from the team that beat Sheffield United last time out. John Lundstram limped out in the early stages of the 1-0 win over the Blades before the international break, and is set to miss the next few weeks with that calf problem. Lundstram’s unfortunate absence is a blow to City, but Jakirovic does at least have options at his disposal, which makes the absence of the Liverpudlian less damaging than it might have been previously. Darko Gyabi has impressed in his cameos so far and grabbed the winner for the Under-21s in their terrific comeback with 10 men at Coventry City last week to boost his prospects of starting again, while Amir Hadziahmetovic is pushing for a recall after losing his place to Regan Slater. Elsewhere in the starting XI, Jakirovic is unlikely to be keen on making too many changes to the side that battled so well to claim that scalp against United.
Liam Millar is eying a first start in almost 12 months after banking useful minutes for Canada during the international break, while Jakirovic has Joel Ndala fit again after a foot injury, and Kyle Joseph has recovered from the illness that saw him miss that Yorkshire derby success.
Jakirovic will hope Millar, Semi Ajayi and John Egan all returned unscathed from their respective international travels, and he will hold talks with Kasey Palmer after he was left out of the last game.
Predicted starting XI: Pandur, Giles, Hughes, Egan, Coyle, Slater, Amir, Gyabi, Akintola, Gelhardt, McBurnie.
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