Stoke City v Hull City: Team news, predictions & odds

The game kicks off at 1500 BST at the bet365 Stadium.

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Stoke City v Hull City: Team news

Goalkeeper Jack Butland is moving closer to his long-awaited Stoke return and could make the bench against Hull.

Butland has been out since injuring his ankle with England in March 2016 but after featuring for the under-23s in midweek he could step up with Shay Given (back) a minor doubt.

Joe Allen has been ruled out after suffering a knock against Burnley, Jonathan Walters is a doubt and Ibrahim Afellay could be out for the season after undergoing a knee operation.

Hull defender Harry Maguire faces a late fitness test.

Maguire missed last week's defeat at Manchester City due to a knee injury and although he returned to full training this week, the centre-half remains doubtful as the Tigers chase their first league win on the road since August.

Midfielder Tom Huddlestone is available after serving a three-match ban and striker Dieumerci Mbokani (hamstring) is back in contention, but defender Omar Elabdellaoui (back) is still out.

Stoke (from): Grant, Given, Butland, Bardsley, Shawcross, Pieters, Martins Indi, Muniesa, Cameron, Whelan, Adam, Imbula, Shaqiri, Arnautovic, Sobhi, Walters, Crouch, Berahino, Diouf, Bony.

Hull (from): Provisional squad: Jakupovic, Marshall, Robertson, Davies, Dawson, Maguire, Ranocchia, Elmohamady, Huddlestone, Evandro, Meyler, Henriksen, Grosicki , Hernandez, Diomande, N'Diaye, Clucas, Markovic, Niasse, Mbokani.

Stoke City v Hull City: Our prediction 

Our Nick Hext writes... There shouldn’t be many takers for the even-money on offer for out-of-form Stoke to get the better of the impressive Hull at the bet365 Stadium. 

I’ve been staggered by the impact that Marco Silva has enjoyed at Hull. Not because I though he was the wrong choice because of a lack of Premier League experience, just simply because this looked like a squad that lacked the basic quality needed even to stay off the foot of the table. 

The departure of both Robert Snodgrass and Jake Livermore during January added further credence to my views on the Tigers and there wasn’t much coming in at the KCOM Stadium that caught the eye. 

It’s turned out that Silva has been able to mingle his low-key January additions with the last remnants of Hull’s promotion winning squad in spectacular fashion. 

Forgotten Liverpool flop Lazar Markovic and Oumar Niasse, who was barely considered good enough by Everton boss Ronald Koeman to play in the Checkatrade Trophy earlier this season, are just two of the players producing their best performances in years and that all adds up to a real chance of survival for the Tigers. 

They sit two points ahead of Swansea ahead of the latest round of fixtures and there’s no reason that I can see to expect a routine Stoke win in this contest. 

The Potters have lost their last four matches on the spin and they’ve only been able to win two of their previous 11. 

A little more work is needed from Mark Hughes’ men to secure their top-flight status once again, something that I’m sure they will do, but this is proving to be a slightly trying time for Stoke supporters. 

The club has still made magnificent progress over the last two decades so there’s no need to get too carried away but alterations are certainly needed to the squad over the summer to ensure that things keep going in the right direction. 

Hull’s away record - they’ve lost 13 and drawn just one of their previous 14 games outside the KCOM Stadium - is the reason I’m just about stepping away from the 10/3 available but don’t bank on Stoke at such a short price. 

The draw is worth a look as is taking a note of two of Stoke’s previous six home games ending level at 1-1.     

Prediction: Stoke City 1-1 Hull City

Stoke City v Hull City: Manager quotes

Mark Hughes (Stoke City)

On Saido Berahino searching for his first goal in 14 months: "Opportunities for him personally have been at a premium, I have to say. Against Liverpool he had a great opportunity, did everything right and Mignolet made an outstanding save to thwart him.

"All strikers need a goal to get up and running when they're at a new club and he's striving to do that, but we've been really pleased with the work he's doing on and off the field, training really well. He wants to get back on track and we feel we're the right club for him.

"I think when Saido joined I said our expectation from the outset was more for next year. This year it's about getting back on track and back playing games.

"It's been a difficult period for him on and off the field and what he wants to do is put everything behind him and get on with what he's paid to do - and that's be a top-level football player," said Hughes.

"That focus is back now and we've been really pleased with his attitude. We obviously do our checks, our due diligence, and we knew he was a decent lad. We didn't think his personality would be a risk bringing him in to the group and we haven't been disappointed in that regard. The key for him now is to get up and running, scoring goals and being the player he has the capability of being."

On Ibrahim Afellay: "Unfortunately Ibrahim Afellay has a bit of a problem with his knee and is likely to be out for four or five weeks. He has gone back to Barcelona to see the surgeon who has worked with him before and has undertaken a small operation. 

"There was a little problem in his knee but hopefully the procedure will help clear that up. With there only being six games of the season left it is unlikely that he will feature again unfortunately, but we will wait and see about that." 

On Joe Allen: "Joe is out of the game this weekend, but all being well he will be available for the match against his former side next Saturday."

Marco Silva (Hull City)

Silva feels his side must take points from their remaining trips to Stoke, Southampton and Crystal Palace: "Sure, this is my feeling and I've passed this on to the players as well.

"All of our games are important and next season it's important, if it's at home or away, to take as many points as possible.

"Our next game is away and we need to change the situation and we will do our best to be competitive during the match and take points." 

On Stoke: "We respect Stoke. 

"Sure it's a hard game for us. Of course, the last results for them are not the best as well, but what is important is our performance and the way we prepare.

"If it's coming at a good moment or not because of Stoke's (recent) performance is not the most important." 

Stoke City v Hull City: Opta facts

Stoke have only lost one of their nine previous Premier League meetings with Hull (1-2 in November 2009), winning the last two in a row. 

Hull have failed to score in their last three league visits to the bet365 Stadium (L3), with their only goal there coming in a 1-1 draw in November 2008. 

Indeed, the Tigers haven’t won a league game at Stoke since January 2006, but they did win an EFL Cup tie there earlier this season (2-1 in September). 

Hull have won 17 points in the Premier League since Marco Silva was appointed manager, but just one of these points have come away from home (P6 W0 D1 L5). 

Since Marco Silva’s appointment on January 5th, Hull have won the most points from losing positions in the Premier League (9). They have sealed three wins from behind in this period in the competition. 

The Tigers have conceded a goal in 29 of their 32 Premier League games this season; more often than any other side. 

Stoke are on a run of four successive Premier League defeats – they have never lost five in a row in the competition and the last time they did this in a single top-flight campaign was back in May 1985 (10 defeats in a row). 

The Potters have lost their last two Premier League games at home – they haven’t lost three top-flight home games in succession since May 1985 (six in a row). 

Hull have conceded eight goals in the 90th minute or later of Premier League games this season; more than any other side. 

Stoke have scored just two goals in their last five Premier League matches, despite attempting 44 shots in these games – both of which were scored by Jonathan Walters.    

Stoke City v Hull City: Sky Bet odds

Stoke are marginally odds-on with Sky Bet at 19/20 for the victory with Hull 3/1 for a first away win since August, while the draw is priced at 12/5. Mark Hughes’ men are still considered safe from the drop at 66/1 despite their poor form, while the Tigers are well in the relegation mix at 5/4 to face relegation. Saido Berahino, Peter Crouch and Marko Arnautovic share favouritism in a wide-open first goalscorer market, as Aber Hernandez and Oumar Niasse are both 7/1 shots for the visitors.  

Click for Sky Bet's Stoke City v Hull City odds! 

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