Sergej Jakirovic has some big decisons to make this weekend
Sergej Jakirovic has some big decisons to make this weekend(Image: Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
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Sergej Jakirovic must decide whether to make any changes to his Hull City side for Sunday's visit of Everton to the MKM Stadium, three weeks on from the defeat at Newcastle United.
Nobel Mendy is available again after missing the Tyneside trip with a concussion, while Morita and Brooke Norton-Cuffy could both return to the squad after missing the 2-1 loss.
Despite concerns he could be sidelined for a longer period with a knee problem, former Everton star Tim Iroegbunam is set to feature against the club he left in the summer to join the Tigers. The 23-year-old impressed in the second half after replacing Matt Crooks at St James' Park, and may well come into the starting line-up, assuming he comes through training on Saturday without any issues.
Lucas Herrington was handed a first Premier League start last time out, coming in for Mendy, but it would not be a surprise to see the powerful Senegal defender return and slot into the back three Jakirovic has deployed so far.
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Jakirovic will also run the rule over the fitness of Sorba Thomas and Oli McBurnie, both of whom played significant minutes during the international break for Wales and Scotland, respectively. Mo Belloumi will also be assessed after a busy international window saw him make his debut for Algeria and get on the scoresheet. Given his previous injury concerns, the City boss knows he must tread carefully with the influential Tigers' star, and the same with Semi Ajayi, who was rested in Nigeria's friendly with Russia last weekend. Matt Targett is not available after suffering a twisted ankle in training, while Charlie Hughes and Darko Gyabi remain unavailable.
The key battle against David Moyes' side will surely come in midfield. Harrison Armstrong, James Garner and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, supported by Jack Grealish, will provide a stern test of City's engine room, and getting that right will be crucial.
No player has covered more ground than the highly-rated Armstrong, though Regan Slater isn't too far behind, and finding a way to dominate in that area is high on Jakirovic's agenda.
City's head coach will also want to see a much quicker start from his side than he's seen in the last two games, with his men conceding inside seven minutes and Chelsea, and then twice on Tyneside to find themselves 2-0 down. While they were able to fight back at Stamford Bridge, the mountain proved too tough to climb against the Toon.
The Tigers' predicted starting XI: Tzolakis, Giles, Mendy, Egan, Ajayi, Coyle, Slater, Crooks, Iroegbunam, Belloumi, McBurnie.
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