Hull City vs Reading. Sky Bet Championship.
MKM StadiumAttendance14,300.
Friday 12 January 2018 12:59, UK
The Hull quartet of Allan McGregor, Michael Dawson, Jackson Irvine and Nouha Dicko all return to contention for the home game against Reading.
All four sat out last week's FA Cup win at Blackburn and boss Nigel Adkins must decide whether to recall them or retain David Marshall, Max Clark, Evandro and Adama Diomande.
Seb Larsson is also pushing for a recall, while Adkins has no major new injury or suspension worries for the game against his former club. Kamil Grosicki (ankle), Ondrej Mazuch (hamstring), Stephen Kingsley (groin), Will Keane (knee) and Ryan Mason (fractured skull) all remain sidelined.
Reading should have Liam Moore available again after the defender missed the FA Cup third-round tie at Stevenage because of a knee problem. After making some seven changes for the goalless draw against Boro, Royals boss Jaap Stam should recall the likes of defender Chris Gunter and goalkeeper Vito Mannone, who is set to face one of his former clubs.
Forward Joseph Mendes is closing in on a return to training following his knee problem, but winger Callum Harriott (hamstring) remains sidelined. Midfielder Stephen Quinn (knee) also continues his rehabilitation, while defender Jordan Obita is out for the season after undergoing surgery on his anterior cruciate ligament.
Hull are unbeaten in their last seven league meetings with Reading (W4 D3), since a 3-1 defeat in November 2005.
The Royals have never won against the Tigers at the KC Stadium (D2 L2), with their last win coming at Boothferry Park in March 1994 courtesy of a Jimmy Quinn brace in a 2-1 victory.
Nigel Adkins - who managed 80 games for Reading between March 2013 and December 2014 - has not faced his former side since December 2012, a 1-0 win in the Premier League when Southampton manager.
Reading have collected fewer points across their last six Championship matches (2) than any other side.
Hull remain winless in all 19 league matches this season against sides whose names do not start with B - all five of their wins have come against sides beginning with B (Burton, Bolton, Birmingham, Barnsley and Brentford).
Two of the top three players for completed passes in this season's Championship are Reading defenders Paul McShane (1312) and Liam Moore (1303).
It's just not quite happening for Nigel Adkins at Hull so far. He won his first game in charge but there's just been two points accrued in the league since then, and now they find themselves just outside the drop zone on goal difference.
Things have to change quickly and it's a great opportunity for them against a Reading side whose form has been just as bad, if not worse, as theirs. It's going to be a nervy one, but I feel like this will be a narrow home win.
David Prutton predicts: 2-1 (15/2 with Sky Bet)
