Former Arsenal and Inter Milan star Patrick Vieira is poised to make his long-awaited debut for Manchester City when they visit the KC Stadium on Saturday. Winger Adam Johnson could also feature following his £7m switch from Middlesbrough on transfer deadline day as Roberto Mancini’s side face take on Hull who, fresh from holding leaders Chelsea to a draw on Tuesday night, will bid to move out of the relegation zone with their first win in 11 league games.

Quick Check

Hull City

  • Defender Paul McShane is hoping to overcome a head injury to start.
  • Striker Amr Zaki is hoping for his full debut after appearing as a substitute in the last two games.
  • Seyi Olofinjana could return after the African Cup of Nations.
  • The Tigers drew 1-1 with league leaders Chelsea in midweek.
  • Defender Steven Mouyokolo scored his first goal in nine appearances in that game.
  • Hull held City to a 1-1 draw when they met at Eastlands in November.
  • The Tigers are without a win in their last ten league games.
  • Midfielder Jimmy Bullard is still sidelined by a knee injury.
  • Hull have conceded 14 of the 19 goals let in in their last eight games in the second half.
  • Ian Ashbee is sidelined by a long-term knee problem.

Manchester City

  • Winger Adam Johnson is in line to make his debut after his £7m move from Middlesbrough.
  • Patrick Vieira is expected to finally make his debut after a calf problem.
  • Defenders Wayne Bridge and Joleon Lescott are fit to return after recovering from knee surgery.
  • Pablo Zabaleta is likely to play with a mask to protect a broken nose.
  • Striker Carlos Tevez has scored ten goals in his last nine Premier League games.
  • Vincent Company has been ruled out of the next two matches with a groin injury.
  • Micah Richards and Roque Santa Cruz are injury doubts with calf problems.
  • Midfielder Michael Johnson will miss the rest of the season with a long-term knee problem.
  • City have won only three of 11 away games in the Premier League this season.

Expert Advice

If the two sides had met a month ago, a City victory would have been very much on the cards but it could be a very different result at the weekend now. Hull may have only drawn their last two games and still be without a league win in ten games but it was the manner of their performance against Chelsea that improved observers in midweek. The Tigers look capable once again of causing problems to the very best teams and, providing their exploits in midweek have not taken too much out of them, they may be a handful for the visitors. Roberto Mancini’s side may be handily placed for a Champions League challenge but they will need to show a vast improvement on their 2-0 win over Portsmouth last weekend, so Betsson’s odds of 3.5 for a draw appears a value bet.

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