Hull’s previous visit to Eastlands ended in a 5-1 rout, and Phil Brown’s notorious half-time on-pitch team talk in front of the travelling fans who had just witnessed their side concede four unanswered goals. Brown will not wish his men’s recent uplifting sequence of results in the Premier League to have a loss added to it, and certainly not by four goals. Mark Hughes, meanwhile, is hopeful Robinho will finally return to City’s squad, though how happy the manager is to have the temperamental Brazilian back in the dressing room is moot. Jamie Jackson

Venue City of Manchester Stadium

Tickets £34-36 (www.mcfc.co.uk)

Last season Manchester City 5 Hull 1

Referee L Probert

This season’s matches 5 Y21, R2, 4.60 cards per game

sportingbet odds Man City 2-9 Hull 10-1 Draw 21-5

Manchester City

Subs from Taylor, Robinho, Johnson, Ireland, Sylvinho, Richards, Weiss, Garrido, Vidal, Kompany, Benjani, Onuoha, Santa Cruz

Doubtful Robinho (ankle), Touré (back)

Injured Petrov (knee, 5 Dec)

Suspended None

Form guide DDDDDD

Disciplinary record Y14 R1

Leading scorers Adebayor, Bellamy 5

Hull

Subs from Myhill, Warner, Fagan, Barmby, Altidore, Garcia, Halmosi, Kilbane, Mouyokolo, Boateng, Marney, Ghilas, Cousin, Sonko, Cooper

Doubtful Bullard (knee), Fagan (chest), Myhill (knee), Olofinjana (hamstring)

Injured Ashbee (knee, May)

Suspended None

Form guide WDWLDL

Disciplinary record Y24 R2

Leading scorers Geovanni, Hunt 3

Match pointers

• Despite having played one more match than any other side this season, Hull have had the fewest shots at goal (101)

• Since Boxing Day 2008, Manchester City have scored 34 goals in 15 home games at an average of 2.3 per match

• Since the start of last season Kamil Zayatte has scored four own goals – no other player has more than two in the same period

• Manchester City have kept only one clean sheet in their last nine league games

• Geovanni has won more free-kicks (34) than any other player in the division

Manchester CityHull CityPremier Leagueguardian.co.uk