Championship: Paul McKenna could start as Tigers face defensive crisis at Hillsborough

Hull City's injury problems have deepened with James Chester and Alex Bruce both joining the growing list of absentees.

After Chester hobbled out of last weekend’s defeat to Peterborough with a hamstring injury, Steve Bruce followed suit when a casualty of Tuesday’s loss against Blackpool with a groin strain.

Liam Rosenior is in line to start for Hull City.

The defensive crisis will force Bruce to revert back to a four-man defence, with Paul McShane likely to partner Abdoulaye Faye.

Concerns over Joe Dudgeon’s knee injury could mean a first league start of the season for Andy Dawson, while Liam Rosenior is also likely to be handed a recall at right-back.

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A re-jigged starting XI could also see a first start since August for Paul McKenna.

As well as nursing back knee injury victims Jack Hobbs and Tom Cairney, City’s medical team also look set for a long rehabilitation with Matty Fryatt, who now appears likely to undergo surgery on an Achilles injury.

Sheffield Wednesday took seven points from their opening three games back in the Championship, but their form has nosedived spectacularly.

Five consecutive defeats have seen the Owls sink down the table like a stone and only a 3-3 draw at Burnley on Tuesday night spared them a sixth loss on the spin. Fourteen goals have been leaked in their last six games.

Jones is pinning his hopes on being able to recall either Lewis Buxton or Kieran Lee to help plug the Championship’s worst defence today.

Buxton has been sidelined with a hamstring strain and Lee has missed out due to a foot problem, leaving Jones to employ winger Jermaine Johnson at right-back in the last two matches.

The enforced change has been problematic but with defender Reda Johnson still out with a long-term foot injury, Johnson will continue out of position if Buxton and Lee fail to make it.

Central defender Mark Beevers yesterday joined Millwall on loan and Chris Lines remains a long-term absentee due to a troublesome groin, but fellow midfielder Rhys McCabe is in line for a start.

The midfielder played the second half of the midweek draw at Burnley – a six-goal thriller – after shaking off a thigh injury. He could replace Nejc Pecnik in the Wednesday engine-room.