The Tigers launch their 46-game season against the Sky Blues on Saturday
Hull City boss Sergej Jakirovic is preparing to pick his first Championship starting XI of the season and it will be fascinating to see what he opts to do.
The Tigers kick off their new campaign against one of the sides fancied to mount a promotion push in Coventry City but will be backed by around 1,600 fans in the Midlands for the lunchtime curtain raiser.
After a summer of more change, Jakirovic will be able to call upon a flurry of new signings at the CBS Arena, including striker Oliver McBurnie, following his arrival earlier this week.
McBurnie’s arrival boosts the club’s attacking options, with Jakirovic keen to find a way to solve the issues of last season in attack, though Joe Gelhardt’s move is unlikely to be completed in time for him to feature.
Lewie Coyle has not quite recovered from the hamstring injury he picked up in pre-season, and Enis Destan is not ready to feature yet, and both Liam Millar and Mohamed Belloumi are not expected back until next month.
Jakirovic faces some big calls throughout his side, starting with the back four. It’s likely Cody Drameh and Ryan Giles will start as full-backs, but a big decision comes in the centre of the back four. Charlie Hughes will start the game, but who will partner him?
Will it be Semi Ajayi, John Egan or Akin Famewo? The smart money is probably on Ajayi taking his place in front of Ivor Pandur. In midfield, new arrival John Lundstram was handed a first start against Getafe last week. It’s likely he’ll start with Matt Crooks alongside him, with Kasey Palmer deployed further forward against his former club.
Abu Kamara will almost certainly start on the right, with the big question coming on the left. Nathan Tinsdale has been played there in the last couple of friendlies so he will hope to get the nod ahead of Joel Ndala or Harry Vaughan.
Alternatively, Jakirovic could be tempted to deploy Palmer wide, put Crooks in the number 10 position and bring in Regan Slater to offer a little more solidity away from home, but it’s likely Tinsdale will be given the chance to impress in the Championship.
Given McBurnie has not played any minutes in pre-season, it’s almost certain he will start on the bench with Kyle Joseph deployed up front.
City’s predicted starting XI: Pandur, Giles, Hughes, Ajayi, Drameh, Lundstram, Crooks, Palmer, Tinsdale, Kamara, Joseph.
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