Hull City’s predicted starting XI to kick season off at Norwich City with full-back call made

After three months without Championship football, the second-tier returns this afternoon

Liam Rosenior was understandably coy after last Saturday’s final friendly of the summer against FC Nantes, when he was asked if his starting XI gave any indication of his thinking for the season opener at Norwich City. The Hull City boss, as you’d expect, played those questions with a Harry Brook-style straight bat, but in truth, it probably won’t be too far away.

While Rosenior is not short of options at Carrow Road, it’s hard to make a case for the team he picks being much different to what we saw against the French Ligue 1 outfit. Arguably the biggest question at this stage surrounds who plays out wide, with Jason Lokilo still finding his feet since his summer move, and the Tigers yet to add another winger.

Adama Traore played off one flank, with Harry Vaughan on the other and Ozan Tufan in the number 10-type role behind sole striker Liam Delap. In fact, nailing down too much with a month of the transfer window still to go remains tough, though we can almost be assured of what it looks like for now.

Matt Ingram will start in goal for the foreseeable future, until a new goalkeeper is signed, and Ruben Vinagre will occupy the left-back berth. Given Lewie Coyle has been nursing an ankle problem, and though he’s back in training, Cyrus Christie is almost certain to play on the right, with Jacob Greaves and Alfie Jones the two central defenders.

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Regan Slater is expected to partner Jean Michael Seri in the double pivot role, with Vaughan, Ozan and Traore the three in front of them behind striker Delap.

City’s options on the bench, however, will look enticing, particularly given Rosenior now has the luxury of naming nine. Oscar Estupinan is back after injury, Aaron Connolly will be there and so too, the likes of Ryan Longman, Xavier Simons and Sean McLoughlin, along with Coyle, Brandon Fleming, and others.

Greg Docherty remains sidelined and the game will come too soon for Allahyar Sayyadmanesh, who continues to recover from a calf injury amid speculation about his Tigers future, and Dogukan Sinik will not yet be considered.

Here’s how we expect City to line-up: Ingram, Vinagre, Greaves (c), Jones, Christie, Seri, Slater, Traore, Vaughan, Ozan, Delap.