The Tigers host the Blades in a big Yorkshire derby this weekend
Barry Cooper Hull City correspondent
12:00, 03 Oct 2025
Hull City manager Sergej Jakirovic has decisions to make this weekend (Image: Alex Dodd – CameraSport via Getty Images)
Sergej Jakirovic will almost certainly make changes to his Hull City starting side for Saturday’s Yorkshire derby against Sheffield United as he looks to seal victory going into the international break. The Croatian boss brought back Kasey Palmer on Tuesday night against Preston North End at the expense of Joe Gelhardt, but the change in approach didn’t pay off as City produced a limp first-half display to trail 2-0 at the break. Jakirovic hauled off Palmer, Amir Hadziahmetovic and Cody Drameh at the interval, though, in truth, he could have made any raft of changes so poor were his side. The introduction of Regan Slater, Gelhardt and the returning Liam Millar immediately sparked City into life, and they ended up claiming a point with two more goals from Oli McBurnie. Jakirovic must decide whether to recall Gelhardt, but he also faces two big decisions elsewhere. In the middle of the park, his side were poor in the second half at Watford, as well as that shambles against PNE, so he could be tempted to recall the energetic Slater against his former club. On the flank, Drameh was drafted in on the right side at Vicarage Road, and it worked to an extent, but did not in midweek, and so, it’s likely the head coach will want more natural width. Millar was excellent in the second half on Tuesday, but after 11 months out, starting him after just 45 minutes would be a major risk. Instead, Jakirovic may opt to start David Akintola, given Mo Belloumi and Joel Ndala remain sidelined. Potentially, he could bring in Brandon Williams on the left and play the in-form Ryan Giles further forward, as he looks to add to his five assists in eight games, albeit that’s an unlikely turn of events. Elsewhere, Semi Ajayi is pushing for a return to the starting line-up for the first time since the opening day at Coventry. The Nigerian was back on the bench on Tuesday night but didn’t feel ready to start, according to Jakirovic, while Matt Crooks is expected to be back in the squad having returned to full training in recent days. Predicted starting XI: Pandur, Giles, Hughes, Egan, Coyle, Slater, Lundstram, Joseph, Gelhardt, Akintola, McBurnie.
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