There’s some key choices to be made this week
Sergej Jakirovic will hope for a strong end to the campaign(Image: Martin Rickett/PA Wire)
Sergej Jakirovic faces a tough decision when he sits down to have his selection meeting with his coaching staff on Friday.
Such was the level of Monday night’s performance against champions-elect Coventry City, he has some big calls to make when he takes his side to Sheffield United on Saturday.
Charlie Hughes was rested as he continued to manage an injury, while Toby Collyer made his full debut and delivered a terrific performance in the centre of midfield.
In Hughes’ absence, John Egan was exceptional and will be relishing his return to Bramall Lane, and alongside him, Semi Ajayi marked Haji Wright and then Ellis Simms out of the game.
That partnership of Collyer and Amir Hadziametovic worked brilliantly in the engine room, against Matt Grimes and Victor Torp, arguably one of the most complete performances of the season so far.
Whether Jakirovic feels Collyer can go again after making his first start remains to be seen, but the on loan Manchester United youngster certainly feels he can, so that’s perhaps the manager’s biggest headache, but a good one nonetheless.
Out wide, Canadian star Liam Millar came in for Mo Belloumi and impressed, with Jakirovic keen to protect the Algerian wing-wizard after successive hamstring injuries in his comeback from knee ligament surgery.
John Lundstram has impressed in the last two games, and like Egan, will be craving a place in the starting XI against his former boss in Chris Wilder.
Despite being without key players still, it feels like this is arguably the strongest squad Jakirovic has had to pick from all season; and striking the right balance at Bramall Lane will be absolutely key again.
City’s predicted XI: Pandur, Coyle, Ajayi, Egan, Drameh, Amir, Collyer, Belloumi, Gelhardt, Crooks, McBurnie.
JOIN US ON FACEBOOK! Latest Hull City news and analysis on our Hull Live FB page