City know they must bounce back against their play-off rivals
Matt Crooks is set to return to the City team after a six-game absence (Image: George Wood/Getty Images)
Sergej Jakirovic will be forced into at least one change to his side for Tuesday night’s huge MKM Stadium showdown with Derby County.
On loan Bristol City winger Yu Hirakawa will be sidelined with the ankle injury he sustained in the defeat to QPR on Saturday afternoon, but defender Charlie Hughes is set to return to the fold, and so, too, could Matt Crooks.
Hirakawa’s problem could yet see him ruled out for the duration of the season, but his absence hands an opportunity to Lewis Koumas or Kyle Joseph to start on the flank.
Jakirovic could also move Joe Gelhardt back out wide in the front four, and bring somebody else into the central attacking role, potentially Kieran Dowell or push Amir Hadziahmetovic further forward.
Frustrated with what he saw against Rangers, the City head coach has suggested he might well change their tactical approach to stop the unnecessary faffing around at the back we’ve seen in recent games.
That may mean he also looks to freshen things up elsewhere. He could bring back Hughes into the heart of the back four, and push Paddy McNair further forward alongside Regan Slater in the two more defensive-minded midfield roles.
One thing he will want to be mindful of is the Rams’ threat from set plays, and because of that, he’ll want that extra physicality in his team, and having Crooks back available could be crucial.
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City’s predicted XI: Pandur, Giles, Hughes, Egan, Coyle, McNair, Slater, Millar, Crooks, Koumas, McBurnie.
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