Sheffield United begin the month of September with the first of two Yorkshire Derbies as they travel to Hull City this weekend before hosting Rotherham United next Saturday. Join us as we look at our East Yorkshire opposition, Hull City.
Form Guide
Last 6 league games: DWDLWL
Hull City come into this fixture on the back of a 3-1 defeat at Queens Park Rangers on Tuesday night, which saw former Blade, Tyler Smith, claim his first goal of the season for the Tigers, and currently lay seventh in the table (at the time of writing). Their form has been infrequent and has won 3 out of the 7 league games played thus far (drawn 2). They have netted 11 goals and conceded 13.
Last Time
15.02.2022 – Sheffield United 0-0 Hull City (Championship)
With 21 shots at goal and 71% possession, the Blades were guilty of wasting several opportunities to sweep aside, although the goalless draw did tally United’s unbeaten run to six matches. Jack Robinson had headed wide from a free-kick and Morgan Gibbs-White saw his deflected effort fly over the bar on what was a frustrating day for Paul Heckingbottom’s side.
The Boss
Shota Arveladze – Following a successful playing career as a striker, where he won the Scottish Premier League on two occasions with Rangers (in 2003 and 2005), as well as earning 61 international caps for Georgia, the former Ajax striker turned to coach. He was appointed ‘Head Coach’ at Hull on 27th January 2022 and helped guide the Tigers to nineteenth in the table
Squad
Having lost Keane Lewis-Potter to Premier League side Brentford in the summer for an undisclosed fee, the Tigers have reshaped with the signatures of fourteen fresh faces – many on a free transfer. They have recently acquired Ryan Woods from Birmingham City and Cyrus Christie from Fulham.
The Tigers come into this fixture without four first-team players. Defenders Brandon Fleming (leg), and Ozan Tufan (hamstring), as well as midfielders Billy Chadwick (ACL), and Dogukan Sinilk (calf), are all absent through injury. However, the KCOM side could select striker Tyler Smith to face his former club. The 23-year-old forward came through the Blades Academy and played for the Bramall Lane club between 2017 and 2021 before joining Hull. With United, he played once in a Carabao Cup victory over Carlisle United on 10th August 2021, fourteen days before joining the Tigers.
The Tigers were busy on transfer deadline day last Thursday as recruited four further signings who could all feature against United tomorrow. They completed the permanent deal of Adama Traore on a free transfer from Turkish side Hatayspor. They also completed three season loan loans with Greek midfielder Dimitris Pelkas, joining from Turkish side Fenerbahçe, whilst both Xavier Simmons and Harvey Vale joined from Chelsea.
Expected Line-Up
(4-2-3-1): Ingram; Christie, Figueiredo, Greaves (captain), Elder; Jones, Slater; Longman, Cannon, Tetteh; Estupiñán.