Hull City v Charlton: team news

Steve Bruce has promised to give Gedo his first opportunity to spearhead the Hull City attack with a full debut against Charlton Athletic this afternoon.

The Egyptian marked his maiden appearance at the KC Stadium with a fine header in the Tigers’ 2-1 win over Derby County on Tuesday to compile an irresistible case for his inclusion today.

Changes will be guaranteed in the City starting XI and that is likely to mean Jay Simpson drops to the bench. Robert Koren, City’s out-of-sorts skipper, may also fear for his place.

Bruce has strongly hinted he will abandon a 3-5-2 shape in favour of a 4-4-2 and that would mean new roles for several players.

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Paul McShane and Robbie Brady both played as full-backs in the second half against Derby, while Ahmed Elmohamady and Stephen Quinn filled the wide positions in midfield.

Bruce will be able to welcome back son Alex from a leg injury today but Abdoulaye Faye (calf) and Sone Aluko (Achilles) remain out.

Aluko trained this week for the first time but his hopes of playing again before the end of February appear bleak.

Matty Fryatt continues to make progress from his own Achilles injury and could now have an “outside chance” of featuring in April.

Charlton manager Chris Powell has the luxury of a fully-fit squad as he masterminds another big away day for Charlton Athletic, who boast the best away record outside of the top six.

Forward Danny Haynes missed last weekend’s 1-1 draw against Birmingham with a hamstring injury but he has since trained fully this week and will expect to be involved this afternoon.

Powell’s biggest selection dilemma will surround the personnel he calls upon to fit a favoured 4-5-1 shape on the road.

A 4-4-2 formation deployed against Birmingham last weekend saw both Ricardo Fuller and Yann Kermogant in attack, but a re-jigged system may not be able to accommodate both forwards at the KC.

Rhoys Wiggins, who was a star of Charlton’s promotion campaign from League One in 2011-12, has recovered from a broken foot but his regular position of right-back has been filled manfully by Frenchman Cedric Evina.

Charlton boss Powell is likely to pack the midfield this afternoon and will look to Bradley Pritchard, Dale Stephens and former Tottenham youth graduate Johnnie Jackson to stifle the Tigers’ attempts to attack.