PREM: Hull City v Everton preview

Hull City v Everton preview

Hull boss Mike Phelan is expected to choose from an unchanged squad for the home game against Everton.

Phelan, who has no new injury or suspension worries, named an unchanged starting line-up for the Boxing Day defeat to Manchester City and must decide whether to freshen things up.

Goalkeeper Allan McGregor has returned to training following summer back surgery, but Abel Hernandez (groin) is still out and fellow striker Will Keane and defender Moses Odubajo (both knee) remain long-term absentees.

Everton goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg will be missing once again on Friday.

Stekelenburg was ruled out of the 2-0 win at Leicester on Boxing day by a dead leg and remains sidelined, with Joel Robles set to continue in his place.

Midfielder James McCarthy (hamstring) is also still unavailable, as is full-back Bryan Oviedo (unspecified), while Yannick Bolasie and Muhamed Besic are both out of action due to long-term knee injuries.

Hull boss Mike Phelan says "At this moment in time we're looking at every option to bring players in. One of the biggest challenges for any player coming into the club is the position we're in at the moment. If they're courageous enough and want that challenge to either put their name out there to the clubs they're at or they want to show they are better than where they're at, then this is the club to come for that challenge. We can give them that opportunity.

If we can get the right players with the right credentials then that's what we'll try and do. I'm doing my job. I'm trying to get around games, I'm trying to see players. It's difficult because some of them aren't playing at the level of the Premier League, but you have to do your work and then it's a case of trying to get something done. 

That's always a hard thing. It's been difficult in the past to get players into the football club, but it's not impossible. I don't see anything as being impossible. We just need to try and narrow things down and get some serious work done."

Everton boss Ronald Koeman says "We know the Premier League is unpredictable. Maybe you expect a win, and then it will be totally different. I don't look to the classification, the position in the table, because I watched Hull against Manchester City. 

After 70 minutes it was still 0-0 and City were not creating a lot of chances. Also, Hull lost the game at West Ham 1-0 but they were the better team and hit the post several times. So don't focus on positions in the table. It's a tough one, a difficult one and we need to be at our best to get a good result."

Teams:

Hull (from): Marshall, Jakupovic, Elmohamady, Maguire, Dawson, Davies, Robertson, Huddlestone, Livermore, Henriksen, Mason, Clucas, Snodgrass, Mbokani, Diomande, Meyler, Maloney, Weir, Bowen.

Everton (from): Robles, Hewelt, Coleman, Williams, Funes Mori, Holgate, Jagielka, Baines, Barry, Gueye, Davies, Barkley, Cleverley, Lennon, Mirallas, Valencia, Deulofeu, Lukaku.