Team news for Hull City v Ipswich: Bruce faces selection headache

Hull City boss Steve Bruce faces a selection dilemma following the return to fitness of James Chester and Joe Dudgeon.

Chester (hamstring) and Dudgeon (knee) missed the 1-0 win at Sheffield Wednesday but have trained this week and are expected to be in the manager's plans. Alex Bruce (groin) and Robert Koren (calf) are again absent.

Bruce missed out on a possible Northern Ireland debut in midweek with his groin strain and was given little chance of featuring today. Along with Koren, the trip to Bristol City in seven days seems a more realistic target.

The availability of Chester and Dudgeon means Steve Bruce could return to his favoured 3-5-2 shape, with Chester joining Paul McShane and Abdoulaye Faye in a back three.

IS YOUR CAR KEY BENT ? REMOTE FOB NOT WORKING ? LOST CAR KEYS ?...

Peace Of Mind Security Hull Ltd/Hull Car Keys

View details

Print voucher

FOR ALL YOUR CAR KEY NEEDS CALL US NOW ON
01482 423414
SNAPPED KEYS, LOST KEYS, KEYS LOCKED IN VEHICLES,
EXTRA KEYS
WE ALSO REPAIR 90% OF ALL REMOTES AND KEYS, NO FIX NO CHARGE.

Terms: Terms: FREE REMOTE KEY FOB BATTERY ONE PER CUSTOMER
SAVE £3.00 WITH THIS FREE BATTERY
Contact: 01482 423414

Contact: 01482 423414

Valid until: Friday, May 31 2013

That would leave a question mark over Andy Dawson and Liam Rosenior, despite their solid contributions in the 4-4-2 shape that restored defensive strength at Sheffield Wednesday.

If Bruce chooses to retain a flat back four, Dawson and Rosenior could keep their places, with McShane making way for Chester.

"After asking people to be patient and saying they will get their chance, I have to say that anyone I leave out who played against Sheffield Wednesday can consider themselves really unlucky," said Bruce.

"The experienced ones who came in really showed they could handle the situation so it's a big call.

"That's the problems you face as a manager from time to time."

Meanwhile, Jack Hobbs and Tom Cairney (both knee) are targeting returns next month.

Ipswich boss Paul Jewell is likely to hand debuts to new signings Nigel Reo-Coker and Stephen Henderson as his team attempt to stop an eight-game winless run.

Former West Ham, Aston Villa and Bolton midfielder Reo-Coker signed on a short-term deal last week and should be thrown straight in for his debut, alongside Henderson, who penned a three-month loan deal from West Ham.

The keeper is likely to come in for Scott Loach, who will pay the price for his mistakes in the 2-1 loss to Cardiff.

Henderson became the eighth loan signing for Ipswich this week and while Daryl Murphy and Guirane N’Daw are exempt as non-English loans, one of the other six will have to be left out to comply with Football League rules.

Ipswich will bear little resemblance to the team that began the season. Ritchie Wellens, DJ Campbell and Bilel Mohsni all made their debuts against Cardiff.

Michael Chopra is back after he was omitted two weeks ago following allegations of horse race fixing, but Paul Taylor (broken foot) is out.

A bright opening week of the season, where four points were gathered against Blackburn and Watford, proved to be a false dawn for the Tractor Boys and as the campaign nears the quarter mark, Ipswich have slumped alarmingly.

Just three points have come from 24 and not since beating Watford 1-0 on August 21 have Ipswich been able to toast a victory. A defence that has leaked 19 goals this season has only kept one clean-sheet all season.

Possible Tigers line-up: Amos; Chester, Faye, McShane; Elmohamady, Dudgeon, McKenna, Olofinjana, Quinn; Simpson, Aluko.