City will be looking to end their MKM Stadium slump against the Welsh outfit
Barry Cooper Hull City correspondent
09:00, 09 Dec 2025
Mohamed Belloumi has made a real impact off the bench in the last two games(Image: Zach Forster/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Hull City face Wrexham on Wednesday night, looking to return to winning ways after a home humiliation against Middlesbrough last Friday evening.
A terrible first-half display from City saw them 4-0 down at the break before Joe Gelhardt slotted in the Tigers’ first penalty of the season to restore some pride.
As bad as the night was in front of the Sky Sports cameras, there was at least a positive with Liam Millar returning from his hamstring injury and getting a useful 25 minutes or so in the second period, while Oli McBurnie was back on the bench after an eight-game absence.
Both players will be involved again for the visit of Phil Parkinson’s outfit, but while Jakirovic will be determined to give minutes to the influential pair, his biggest decision must surely come with another of their highly-rated stars.
Mohamed Belloumi stepped up his own return from a hamstring problem by playing 45 minutes against Boro, just as he did the week before when his introduction helped turn the game at Stoke City in the Tigers’ favour.
Belloumi must surely be primed for a first start since the clash with Southampton back in September, when he suffered that major setback.
Jakirovic can ill-afford another game where City are behind at the break and then look to try and turn the game by introducing the Algerian.
And given the doubt surrounding Joe Gelhardt, there is a natural replacement there ready to step up and fill the void left by the in-form forward.
Another key decision facing the City boss is in the problem area of midfield. Amir Hadziahmetovic was dragged off at half-time on Friday night, just as Darko Gyabi was the week before. On both occasions, Jakirovic dropped Matt Crooks deeper alongside Regan Slater, and that is arguably his best option again, given John Lundstram will be out for the next couple of weeks.
The other switch we’re likely to see will be the return of Charlie Hughes to the centre of City’s defence. That could come in place of John Egan, or it could see a change in shape and three central defenders deployed in a bid to toughen up the Championship’s leakiest defence.
City’s predicted starting XI: Pandur, Giles, Hughes, Ajayi, Coyle, Crooks, Slater, Joseph, Belloumi, Destan, Ndala.
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