After a dozen or so video games as interim supervisor at Derby County, Liam Rosenior acquired his first correct job as a soccer supervisor when he was appointed Hull Metropolis boss in November 2022. He had spent his prime years at Hull as a participant again within the 2010s, so it was a stunning little homecoming story. Over the subsequent almost two seasons, he took the Tigers to the brink of the Championship playoffs, falling only one place shy in 2024. They sacked him for that, then virtually acquired relegated the next season. Hah!
Their loss was BlueCo’s acquire, with Rosenior going to Strasbourg after which, somewhat over a month in the past, coming to Chelsea to select up the items after Enzo Maresca’s messy exit. And he’s picked them up fairly properly certainly, regardless of the frustration and disappointment of the 2-2 draw towards Leeds United earlier this week. He’s not put them again collectively to type a coherent image simply but, however akin to beginning a jigsaw puzzle, I suppose he might need the border finished already.
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I’d think about he’ll get a pleasant welcome when he returns in cost the Blues tonight; then maybe a barely colder reception on the finish ought to he information his new workforce to victory and a spot within the FA Cup fifth spherical.
Date / Time: Friday, February 13, 2026, 19.45 GMT; 2:45pm EST; 1:15am IST (subsequent day)Venue: MKM Stadium, HullReferee: Farai Hallam (no VAR)Forecast: Breezy however the rain may cease by then
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Hull Metropolis workforce information: Smarter offseason choices have turned issues round for the Tigers after their near-relegation final 12 months, and new head coach Sergej Jakirović has them sitting all the best way up in fourth place.
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The previous Dinamo Zagreb supervisor was mentioned to favor an “thrilling and attacking philosophy” when employed — not like the apparently extra pragmatic Rosenior, who was let go exactly for not with the ability to meet these calls for from the membership proprietor. Positive sufficient, Hull are the fourth highest scoring workforce within the division … whereas additionally conceding greater than most. Actually, solely Southampton have conceded extra within the higher half of the Championship desk.
One other two summer time arrivals, Oli McBurnie and Joe Gelhardt are each among the many main goalscorers within the division; you might need un-fond reminiscences of each, with McBurnie scoring twice towards us for Sheffield United — together with in that almost all horrendous 3-0 defeat throughout Challenge Restart — and Gelhardt, a Leeds United loanee, scoring his first profession Premier League objective towards us a number of years in the past (at the least we’d win that one, dramatically, 3-2). He’s barely scored since, at the least till this season.
Current departures from the membership embody at least three former Chelsea prospects, with Xavier Simons transfering to Bolton Wanderers in the summertime and each Mason Burstow and Kasey Palmer going out on mortgage, the latter just some weeks in the past, in the course of the January switch window.
Jakirović admitted that he might choose to relaxation a few of his key gamers with their focus firmly on promotion, together with key middle again Charlie Hughes, who’s coping with a groin drawback.
“We should be good. If anybody is 50/50, it’s higher to make use of this week to get wholesome as a result of some gamers have performed three in a row at 70 per cent. […] We’re struggling in some positions particularly, however we’ll see.”
“Perhaps Charlie Hughes [is out]. He has drawback along with his groin. He’s performed virtually three weeks like this and is struggling lots, so I possibly resolve it’s higher to skip this sport. […] I have to be cautious and see what is best for the workforce.”
-Sergej Jakirović; supply:
Chelsea workforce information: Likewise, Rosenior might resolve to make the most of his squad to its full extent, even when the second- and third-choice gamers have largely struggled to impress when handed alternatives lately. However given the pressures of the Premier League top-five race, to not point out the Champions League knockout rounds developing, this can be our final finest probability to relaxation and rotate (particularly with a uncommon full week earlier than out subsequent sport).
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Accidents and health issues might after all stop any such plans, although the likes of Reece James, Tosin Adarabioyo, and even Roméo Lavia could also be out there for choice. Marc Cucurella was additionally noticed in coaching, although he’s already been dominated out with the hamstring drawback that pressured him off at half-time towards Leeds United on Tuesday. Levi Colwill, Jamie Gittens, and Dário Essugo stay out as properly whereas the standing of backup goalkeeper Filip Jörgensen stays a thriller. Academy grad Teddy Sharman-Lowe has been serving because the backup, forward of Gaga Slonina, within the final couple weeks.
Beforehand: That is our third straight assembly with Hull Metropolis within the FA Cup; we gained 2-1 away in 2020 (fourth spherical) and 4-0 at house in 2018 (fifth spherical). We’d attain the ultimate in each of these seasons, profitable it in 2018 (nonetheless our final home trophy). General, we’ve gained our final eight towards the Tigers, in all competitions; in reality, we’ve solely ever misplaced to them as soon as in our historical past (35 whole conferences), again in 1988.