The Tigers will now go in search of a third straight win in the Championship
Hull City boss Sergej Jakirovic will be forced into at least one change when his side play their final game before Christmas against West Brom on Saturday.
Ex-Baggies man Semi Ajayi signed off for the next few weeks with a terrific display in the 3-1 win at Millwall last weekend and is now preparing for Nigeria’s AFCON opener against Tanzania on Tuesday.
Ajayi’s absence will be keenly felt for as long as he’s away with the Super Eagles, but his exit presents John Egan and Akin Famewo with the chance to pin down a regular start.
Egan had been a preferred option alongside Hughes in the early weeks of the season when Ajayi was side-lined with a hamstring injury, and it’s likely he’ll get the nod, once again.
Elsewhere, Jakirovic made a double change at The Den, with Darko Gyabi and Joel Ndala dropped to the bench, with Amir Hadziahmetovic and Liam Millar coming in.
Both performed well, too, especially Millar, who teed-up Kyle Joseph for the second of his two goals inside the opening 13 minutes in south London.
City, with Millar and Mo Belloumi down either flank, looked a different animal and – with a week’s worth of rest since the win in Bermondsey – will expect to go again against Ryan Mason’s Albion.
Perhaps the biggest discussion point surrounds the striker with Oli McBurnie back fit and among the goals with two off the bench in his last two appearances since coming back from a nine-game layoff.
Jakirovic, though, can afford to be patient with McBurnie’s return, especially with Joseph finding form in front of goal. Three goals in his last two games mean it’s likely he’ll be charged with leading the line on Saturday – leaving McBurnie to come off the bench and add more minutes to his tank ahead of a frantic Christmas period.
Enis Destan is expected to return to the squad, while Kasey Palmer could return from a knee injury, but John Lundstram, Eliot Matazo and Joe Gelhardt remain unavailable to the Tigers.
City’s predicted starting XI: Pandur, Giles, Hughes, Egan, Coyle (c), Amir, Crooks, Slater, Millar, Belloumi, Joseph.
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