Hull v Cardiff Match preview

03 May 2013 13:36
City will be without Craig Bellamy for the final game of the season.

He has an achillies injury that will rule him out of the clash at The KC Stadium tomorrow. Heidar Helguson has returned to Iceland and looks to have played his last for Cardiff.

Nicky Maynard, meanwhile, looks set to return for the trip to Hull after eight months on the sidelines.

The former Bristol City man suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament just three games into his career with the Bluebirds and has watched from the stands as Malky Mackay's men have clinched automatic promotion.

Following his return to fitness, Mackay says he will include the 26-year-old among his substitutes and will look to give the forward some game time against the Tigers.

The former Watford boss, who knows victory at the KC Stadium would be a huge boost to his former employee's automatic promotion hopes, will field his strongest side once more.

Fraizer Campbell, who has missed Cardiff's last five games with a shin injury, is close to a return but captain Mark Hudson will miss out once more in what will be City's farewell to the division before life as a Barclays Premier League side begins.

Hull could be without their captain Robert Koren when they attempt to secure a victory which would send them into the Barclays Premier League against Cardiff.

The Tigers' skipper and top scorer has been missing for the last two games after straining a calf muscle against Wolves and his absence has clearly been felt with Steve Bruce's men goalless in their previous three outings.

Hull, currently in second, only hold a slender one-point advantage over Watford going into the final round of fixtures but, even with the ultimate prize riding on the outcome of their clash with the division's champions, Bruce insists he will not risk Koren unless he proves his fitness at Friday's training session.

"He's 50-50," Bruce said. "We'll see how he is but I've just seen the best player in the world (Lionel Messi) last week play not fit and it's difficult. So unless he's 100 per cent it will be a big gamble for me to put him in the starting XI."

The Tigers' options are depleted further as Egyptian striker Gedo, a mid-season revelation, will play no part due to an ongoing foot problem which Bruce suggested could need an operation.

Forward Matty Fryatt, who has not played 90 minutes since August due to an Achilles injury, is expected to start in tandem with George Boyd.

 

Source: Cardiff City Online

Source: FOOTYMAD