The Tigers will be aiming for a first FA Cup win in six years
Darko Gyabi and Kasey Palmer could be handed starts against Rovers in the FA Cup (Image: Harriet Massey/Getty Images)
Hull City head coach Sergej Jakirovic is expected to name a strong team for Sunday’s FA Cup third round tie with Blackburn Rovers at the MKM Stadium.
Owing to last Sunday’s league game against Watford being postponed, the Tigers haven’t played since New Year’s Day and don’t play again until Saturday when they travel to Southampton at the start of a three-game week.
While the extra break has been useful after a hectic festive period, Jakirovic will likely pick a team packed with first-team players as he looks to end City’s woeful run in the competition, which hasn’t seen them win a game since the 2019/20 campaign.
Jakirovic will have largely the same group of players to pick from against Rovers, as he did last weekend for the visit of Watford, which was controversially called off less than 20 minutes before kick-off.
That saw a surprise return to the starting line-up for Cody Drameh, while Joel Ndala was also drafted in, and both will hope to get minutes against Rovers, as City look to gain some revenge for their 3-0 home defeat back in August.
Matty Jacob is available and won’t be cup-tied, despite playing for Reading in the FA Cup first round, but Jakirovic will still be without Joe Gelhardt, Ryan Giles, John Lundstram, Mo Belloumi and Eliot Matazo.
It wouldn’t be a surprise to see Kasey Palmer handed a start, and the Croatian could give another opportunity to Enis Destan through the middle, and wrap Oli McBurnie in cotton wool.
While he’s expected to go strong, there could still be the temptation to start Cathal McCarthy in the middle of the back four, and draft in a couple of youngsters to the matchday squad.
Here’s City’s predicted XI: Pandur, Jacob, Famewo, McCarthy, Drameh, Gyabi, Amir, Ndala, Palmer Millar, Destan.
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