Hull City v Everton preview

Tigers take on Toffees at The KC

By James Pearson   Last updated: 21st September 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Hull City v Everton preview

Who will partner King?

Skysports.com prediction: Hull City 2 Everton 1

Sky Bet odds: Hull City 9/4, Draw 9/4, Everton 5/4

One to Watch: Marlon King

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Hull City will be hoping to capitalise on their eight-day rest when they take on Everton at the KC Stadium on Sunday.

The Tigers will have over a week's rest following their 2-1 success over Newcastle last weekend, while The Toffees were in Uefa Cup action in midweek.

Phil Brown's side were thumped in their last home outing by Wigan Athletic, but responded with a fine away success over crisis-club Newcastle last time out.

However, that match ended in controversy with Danny Guthrie collecting a straight red card for a reckless challenge on Craig Fagan that left the striker with a fractured right tibia.

Striker dilemma

With Fagan on the sidelines with a broken leg, Brown has the dilemma of who to promote to his striking line-up alongside Marlon King.

Former Rangers man Daniel Cousin is back from suspension and available to make his first City appearance against The Toffees, although Geovanni, Caleb Folan and Dean Windass are also in contention for a starting role.

Brown is also boosted by the availability of fit-again midfielder George Boateng and winger Richard Garcia, although Nick Barmby remains sidelined with a calf strain.

Everton could only manage a 2-2 draw with Standard Liege on Thursday in what proved a bruising affair for David Moyes' side.

Stretchered off

Moyes is likely to be without striker Victor Anichebe after he was stretched off following a full-blooded challenge with Dante Bonfim.

The early prognosis is the Nigeria international's knock is not serious, although he may not be rushed back into action this weekend.

That means his replacement on Thursday James Vaughan may be promoted to the starting XI alongside Aiyegbeni Yakubu should Moyes retain his 4-4-2 formation.

Left-back Joleon Lescott also tweaked his ankle in the game, but managed to play the full 90 minutes. Experienced Portuguese full-back Nuno Valente is on stand-by should Lescott miss out.

Record signing Marouane Fellaini is available again after missing out against his former club, although Moyes has a number of players unavailable for the trip to East Yorkshire.

Summer signing Louis Saha (calf) is out along with the likes of Lars Jacobsen (dislocated shoulder), Steven Pienaar (ankle), Andy van der Meyde (hamstring) and Tony Hibbert (knee).

Possible starting XIs

Hull City: Myhill, Mendy, McShane, Gardner, Dawson, Geovanni, Marney, Ashbee, Halmosi, King, Windass.

Everton: Howard, Neville, Yobo, Jagielka, Valente, Osman, Cahill, Castillo, Arteta, Yakubu, Vaughan.