Hull City vs Manchester United - Harry Maguire fit to give Hull much-needed depth

Posted Friday, August 26, 2016 by PA

Hull defender Harry Maguire is in contention for his first Premier League appearance of the season against caretaker boss Mike Phelan's former club Manchester United.

Maguire came through 90 minutes in Tuesday night's EFL Cup win at Exeter after an ankle injury, but Phelan may decide to start with midfielder Jake Livermore in central defence alongside Curtis Davies.

Phelan made seven changes in midweek and the likes of Abel Hernandez, Adama Diomande, Robert Snodgrass, Tom Huddlestone and Andy Robertson will all return, but Greg Luer will be sidelined for several weeks after sustaining a knee injury.

Phelan is not expecting any new signings to boost his threadbare squad before the game with United despite "a few fees" being agreed.

Phelan, placed in temporary charge when Steve Bruce resigned last month, has guided a squad of 13 fit senior players to third in the Premier League on the back of unexpected wins against champions Leicester and Swansea.

Bruce quit over his frustration at the lack of new arrivals following promotion in May and with Hull's owners, the Allam family, still working to push through the sale of the club to a Chinese consortium, Phelan has had to work with the same limited resources.

"It's the same old, same old," said Phelan, who is preparing his side for a home game with the club where he spent nearly 20 years as player, coach and assistant manager before departing Old Trafford soon after Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.

"Nobody has yet come into the building. We haven't signed any new players.

"We are in talks with two or three new players. We've set our stall out and are pursuing interests but at the moment nothing has been delivered."

Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho feels Phelan deserves to be given the job full-time.

"I hope he gets the job (despite) losing the match," Mourinho said.

"I think it's not intelligent to make a decision about a manager because he wins or loses a match.

"I think the reality is he's one of the most successful assistant managers in the country, in the Premier League. Now he has this job and he has managed to motivate and organise the people.

"Are they defensive? Yes. But that's the way they have found to get points. I think he deserves the job."

Mourinho looks set to have a full squad to choose from at the KCOM Stadium.

Midfielder Jesse Lingard has missed the last two games, but confirmed via Twitter on Tuesday that he was back in training after his injury.

Defender Chris Smalling made his first appearance of the season by coming off the bench in the 2-0 win over Southampton last Friday and will be hoping for a return to the starting line-up.