Team news for the Premier League match between West Bromwich Albion and Hull City at the Hawthorns on Saturday, January 10, 2015 (kick-off 3pm).West Bromwich Albion team news
Tony Pulis is blessed with a near fully fit squad as he prepares to select his first Premier League team as West Brom boss. Only defender Jonas Olsson, who has been out since September with an Achilles injury, and Youssouf Mulumbu, away at the African Cup of Nations this month, are absent.
Neither of those players have been regulars this season and Pulis was expecting to be able to field his strongest XI.
That will leave Baggies supporters guessing a week after thumping Gateshead 7-0, but there is little prospect of looking beyond hot property Saido Berahino in attack.
The England under-21s star has been linked with Liverpool and Tottenham this month but Pulis insists Berahino will remain part of his plans. Victor Anichebe is likely to partner him in attack.
Pulis is traditionally a 4-4-2 man and wide threats are likely to come from Chris Brunt and Stephane Sessegnon, a player Steve Bruce knows well from his time in charge of Sunderland.
Ideye Brown, who was signed for £10m, is struggling to even make the bench. He has been optimistically linked with moves to Hull City, Newcastle and Sunderland.West Brom possible starting XI: Foster; Baird, McAuley, Lescott, Pocognoli; Sessegnon, Morrison, Gardner, Brunt; Berahino, Anichebe. Subs: Myhill (GK), Dawson, Wisdom, Yacob, Dorrans, Varela, Samaras.Hull City team news
Michael Dawson, Nikica Jelavic and James Chester are all expected to return as Steve Bruce's injury problems show some sign of clearing.
Dawson has not played since injuring his hamstring in the 2-0 loss at Chelsea, while Jelavic (illness) and Chester (knee) were not considered for starts at Arsenal.
All three have trained fully this week and provide Bruce with selection dilemmas, although City will still be missing four first-team stars.
As well as the continued absence of Mo Diame with a knee injury, Gaston Ramirez (groin) and Andy Robertson (ankle) are likely to miss the rest of this month.
Liam Rosenior, the third player injured in the New Year's Day win over Everton, will be ruled out until at least March with a hamstring tear, while Sone Aluko (calf) is facing at least three weeks out following a knock last week.
The rest given to Allan McGregor, Ahmed Elmohamady, Alex Bruce, Jake Livermore, David Meyler and Abel Hernandez will freshen up the squad, but Bruce will have a decision to make at left-back with either Robbie Brady or Maynor Figueroa. Should Bruce go with wing-backs, it will almost certainly be Brady called upon.
There was a renewed sense of vigour about Hull City's win over Everton on New Year's Day and the tone for that performance was set by the central midfield pair of Jake Livermore and David Meyler.
The energy of the pair sharpened up the Tigers and made them a nuisance to subdue. Those contributions were often made by Livermore last season but not so much in 2014-15.
The one-time England midfielder must aim to reproduce not just that display but the one seen at the Hawthorns 12 months ago. Only the photographer, whose camera was smashed during his celebration, failed to enjoy that.
West Brom have a fairly pedestrian side and City must look to trample over the ball-playing skills of James Morrison if they are to spoil Tony Pulis' big return to the Premier League.Hull City likely starting XI: McGregor; Chester, Bruce, Dawson; Elmohamady, Meyler, Livermore, Quinn, Brady; Jelavic, Hernandez. Subs: Harper (GK), Davies, Figueroa, Maguire, Huddlestone, Ince, Sagbo.West Brom form guide
Three consecutive defeats ended 2014 for West Brom and also called time on the reign of Alan Irvine. The Scot was sacked after a 2-0 loss at Stoke but the Baggies responding well on New Year's Day with a 1-1 draw at in-form West Ham, with successor Tony Pulis watching on from the stands. West Brom have not impressed on home soil this season. Four of their last five Premier League games there have ended in defeat, while only Aston Villa and Burnley have been beaten.
Last time out, the Baggies breezed past non-league opponents Gateshead with a 7-0 victory in the third round of the FA Cup fourth round. The Baggies had to wait until the 42nd minute to open the scoring but the floodgates soon opened, including four goals from Saido Berahino. Victor Anichebe, Chris Brunt and James Morrison also got in on the act at the Hawthorns to give Tony Pulis a resounding welcome in front of his new supporters.The Gaffer: Tony Pulis
He has been appointed under the title of head coach, but there is no doubt who has become the most influential figure at the Hawthorns. Tony Pulis, the survival expert and reigning Premier League Manager of the Year, was appointed last week and he has all the experience to keep the Baggies up. Pulis, 56, has never been relegated in 23 years in management and enjoyed his greatest escape yet when rescuing Crystal Palace last term.West Brom prospects
Once the eternal yo-yo club, West Brom are now in their fifth consecutive season in the Premier League. Another battle against relegation is well underway and the severity of their predicament was reflected by the appointment of Tony Pulis last week. Just a point separates the Baggies from the bottom three and improvements are needed to ensure 2015 does not bring an unthinkable return to the Championship. Avoiding the drop is Pulis' only real aim this season.
