The Tigers head to west London to face Chelsea on Saturday
Sergej Jakirovic has some tough decisions to make ahead of the Chelsea clash(Image: Getty Images)
Sergej Jakirovic has some decisions to make this week as he mulls over his Hull City line-up to take on Chelsea.
The Tigers head coach has confirmed that Hidemasa Morita and Charlie Hughes are the only registered players carrying injuries at present with the rest of his first-team group being ready and available for selection.
Jakirovic will have to disappoint one or two members of the City squad this week then as he selects what he believes will be the best team for the job.
With that in mind, here’s how we think City could line-up in west London on Saturday.
We’ll start with the right-back position, which Lewie Coyle has held down well so far in the Premier League. Brooke Norton-Cuffy took things up a notch down that side when he came off the bench in the second half of Saturday’s clash with Aston Villa, though, and there is an argument to start him this week with speed on the break potentially being key.
However, he missed the trip to Sunderland in midweek with a slight calf complaint and while he has been given the all clear, Jakirovic might just wait another week or so before throwing Norton-Cuffy into side.
The rest of the back five will surely remain unchanged with John Egan and Ryan Giles among those to impress against Villa.
Regan Slater and Lucas Gourna-Douath have done enough to retain their spots in the middle, you’d think while Mo Belloumi and Oli McBurnie are certain starters.
There seems to be more of a decision to make on the left, though, with Sorba Thomas and Elliot Stroud pushing for the one spot. Stroud didn’t look completely comfortable in the role against Villa, but Thomas didn’t quite do enough at Sunderland to make the choice easy for Jakirovic.
Both will play some part, but Jakirovic’s decision on the starter might just boil down to who will be best suited to doubling up on Pedro Neto down City’s left. That man would be Stroud, with Thomas potentially coming off the bench to provide a counter attacking threat against tired legs.
As such, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Jakirovic name an unchanged side at Stamford Bridge with the likes of Thomas, Cho, Vaz and Crooks set to come off the bench as the game wears on.
Predicted City XI: Konstantinos Tzolakis; Lewie Coyle, Semi Ajayi, John Egan, Nobel Mendy, Ryan Giles; Regan Slater, Lucas Gourna-Douath; Mo Belloumi, Oli McBurnie, Elliot Stroud.