1 week Ago By [email protected] (Barry Cooper)
Hull City head coach Ruben Selles sprang a surprise or two when he named his starting XI at Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday, making three changes. While Joao Pedro's return after a three-game suspension was not a surprise, Selles' decision to hand John Egan a first start since February at the expense of Alfie Jones was, and perhaps, for some, so was Regan Slater's recall at the expense of Steven Alzate. Egan's performance in the heart of the back four alongside matchwinner Charlie Hughes worked well, even if it was harsh on regular Jones, who was the unfortunate matchwinner for Luton Town a week earlier.
Defensively at Hillsborough, City were fairly solid but going forward, lacked any great intensity and threat with Kyle Joseph's first half effort the closest they came. The game was fizzling out into a bore draw until Hughes' stunning header from Lincoln's free-kick sealed a huge victory. Now, the Tigers are looking to make it back-to-back wins for the first time since the early Autumn when they face Watford at Vicarage Road on Tuesday night, with Selles facing another tricky decision or two.
Does he keep faith with Egan or bring back Jones? Will Slater keep his place? Is Gustavo Puerta at risk? And on the flanks, neither Kyle Joseph nor Abu Kamara offered much at Hillsborough so is there an opportunity for Mason Burstow, Lincoln or Kasey Palmer? Selles certainly has options if he wants to change it, but he could also opt for the same side he started with in South Yorkshire, though that would perhaps be a surprise. City's predicted starting XI: Pandur, McLoughlin, Hughes, Egan, Coyle (c), Alzate, Slater, Gelhardt, Crooks, Kamara, Pedro. Have your say using the team selector below.
.. You can listen to the latest 1904 Club podcast looking ahead to Watford right here.
