The Tigers can make it three successive league victories with a fourth home win of the campaign
Barry Cooper Hull City correspondent
12:00, 21 Oct 2025
Hull City star Oli McBurnie in action against Birmingham City on Saturday (Image: SmartFrame/Pro Sports Images)
Hull City chief Sergej Jakirovic will once again be forced to make at least one change to his starting line-up for Tuesday night’s showdown with Leicester City.
Jakirovic may well be unable to call upon skipper Lewie Coyle after he suffered an ankle problem in the first half of Saturday’s fine 3-2 win at Birmingham City, and though he tried to continue, he had to be replaced five minutes into the second period by Cody Drameh.
Drameh will likely come in to replace Coyle, who was due to have a scan to determine the extent of the injury on Monday, but there could be another change or two inside City’s XI.
Oli McBurnie is a doubt after picking up a slight knee problem and may not be risked with Charlton Athletic the visitors on Saturday, and that could open up an opportunity for Enis Destan to be handed a first start.
Despite the win, David Akintola struggled in the first period at St Andrew’s and was withdrawn at half-time. In his place came Matt Crooks, and though he survived a potential sending off late in the game, he was exceptional for the Tigers in helping them claim a first away win of the season.
His display will surely give Jakirovic food for thought, as will the impact of Liam Millar off the bench. The Canadian winger was superb and carried a real threat in the closing stages, and while he should have taken one of the chances he created for himself, his fine footwork and composure laid on the third for Joe Gelhardt.
Taking out Akintola for Crooks would mean there were no natural wingers in the side, which presents a problem, but he may feel Millar is ready to be thrust into the starting XI for the first time since returning from his ACL injury, albeit a tad nervous given what happened to Mo Belloumi.
Another decision comes in midfield, and that’s where he could get Crooks into the side. Amir Hadziahmetovic struggled in the first period, as City failed to gain any real control of the game, so he could make way for Crooks to sit alongside Slater, or perhaps Darko Gyabi could return.
Unfortunately for Jakirovic, the possibility of having no Coyle or McBurnie along with being without John Lundstram and Belloumi in particular, does really hamper his selection in what will be such a big, big test.
City’s predicted XI: Pandur, Giles, Hughes (c), Egan, Drameh, Slater, Crooks, Gelhardt, Millar, Akintola, Destan.
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