Crystal Palace scouts have been watching Hull City captain Charlie Hughes as they seek a long-term replacement for Marc Guehi. (Football Insider), external
Read all the latest EFL transfer rumours in Wednesday's gossip column here.
Jakirovic after City beat Preston to go fourth
Hull City boss Sergej Jakirovic praised his side's "perfect" performance in their 3-0 win at Preston.
The win saw the Tigers remain three points behind second-placed Ipswich.
"We found balance in these two games. We know exactly what we are doing on the pitch out of possession and in possession," he told BBC Radio Humberside.
"We controlled the game and didn't allow anything to Preston. We scored three very nice goals and could have scored more. Everything is perfect.
"When the club offered me Yu (Hirakawa) I said immediately to get him because we are lacking in this position with injuries. He gives us more options because he can play two or three positions and he knows the league.
"Every game is very important in this league. The Southampton win gave us confidence, it was great for us."
Image source, BBC SportHull City midfielder Kasey Palmer is in talks with League One Luton Town over a loan move until the end of the season. The Jamaican international, 29, has made nine league appearances for the Tigers this season. (Hull Live), external
Want more transfer news from the EFL? Check out Tuesday's gossip column here
Both hosts Preston North End and visitors Hull City will be looking to remain inside the top six when they meet at Deepdale on Tuesday (19:45 GMT).
As it stands, the Tigers only need a draw to retain their fifth placed position, while a victory could see them jump up a place should Millwall be unable to claim a point from league leaders Coventry City.
But it's North End who will be feeling the heat, with multiple teams chasing their sixth place and coming off a disappointing late 1-0 loss to Derby County.
There has been just one goal in Preston's last three home league games against Hull City, with two finishing 0-0 (August 2022, March 2024) and the Lilywhites winning this exact fixture 1-0 last term.
Hull have only lost one of their last seven league meetings with Preston (W2 D4), going down 1-0 in December 2024.
Preston have only lost one of their last 30 midweek (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) home league games (W13 D16), a 0-1 defeat to Birmingham in October this season.
Hull have lost each of their last six away league games played in midweek (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday), scoring just one goal in this run. The Tigers had won six in a row prior to this.
Preston's Paul Heckingbottom has only lost one of his four previous home games as a Championship manager against Hull (W2 D1), going down 0-1 with Barnsley in October 2017.
Stoke City's move for Hull City full-back Cody Drameh, 24, could fall through due to his fitness. (The72), external
Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Monday's gossip column here.
Image source, ShutterstockHull City midfielder Kyle Joseph opened the scoring against Southampton
Hull City manager Sergej Jakirovic said watching Kyle Joseph finish for Hull's opening goal was like watching Lionel Messi in action.
But the Tigers boss may now have to do without the midfielder this week after he limped off at St Mary's with an ankle injury.
Joseph's classy strike, likened jokingly to Messi by his boss, helped set the Tigers on their way to a 2-1 win over Southampton at St Mary's but the 24-year-old could be a doubt for Tuesday's trip to Preston.
"It is a kick [on his ankle] so we will see. He wanted to continue in the second half but then after 10 minutes he wanted substitution," Jakirovic told BBC Radio Humberside.
On his goal, Jakirovic added: "We knew they like to play with the goalkeeper so we had extended pressing, double pressing and also press on the sides so they cannot find an exit. Oli McBurnie took the ball and tried to dribble and it deflected to Kyle Joseph and he finished like Messi. It was a perfect goal."
Jakirovic's side are up to fifth with a fifth win in their last seven games.
"We are very happy because of this three points because it was a difficult and demanding game. We took our chances and scored very nice two goals. Second half we controlled mostly.
"In the end we took three points and we are very satisfied."
Jakirovic: 'We have 12 senior players'
Boss Sergej Jakirovic admits Hull City are down to the bare bones for Saturday's trip to Southampton (15:00 GMT).
The Tigers could climb into the Championship's top four with a fourth win in five away games but a swathe of injuries has left the Bosnian with just 12 senior players to call on.
Jakirovic told BBC Radio Humberside: "It is the first time since I have coached I have so many injuries. The medical staff are giving everything to get the players back on the pitch. It's a contact sport. It's a mix of injuries.
"I think we have 11 players right now off the pitch, we have 12 senior players."
Jakirovic admitted he was "very concerned" the injury crisis could derail his side's promising season, adding: "This is not even close to the same team that beat Southampton at home (in September). You cannot replace every player, it's not possible. We have a lack of quality in some positions.
"We showed we are fighting, no matter who is on the pitch and it's a chance for someone who didn't play a lot until now to grab their chance and show their quality.
"We have a lot of problems, this is not an alibi, this is real. I must fix something. I must find the solution. I will put out the best XI I have in the moment."
Jakirovic said he was "not so optimistic" that midfielder Darko Gyabi will only be sidelined for eight to 12 weeks after surgery on a groin injury sustained against Blackburn on Sunday, while forward Enes Destan is stepping up his recovery from a knee injury but will not play before February.
Full-back Cody Drameh could be out until March with a thigh injury while midfielder Eliot Matazo has suffered a setback in his recovery from a knee injury and could miss another six weeks.
On the plus side, Matt Crooks is 50-50 to face Southampton after pulling out of the warm-up against Blackburn following a dead leg, while Semi Ajayi is expected back next week after Afcon duty with Nigeria and Joe Gelhardt might be back training with the team by then too.
Jakirovic said his nomination for manager of the month after a stellar December "gives you confidence you are doing a good job".
He also welcomed the home tie with Chelsea in the FA Cup fourth round, adding: "It's a very difficult draw. Chelsea is a great club but it's a good game for us, and at home. It's very interesting because Liam (Rosenior) was here and did a very good job here. I look forward to meeting him."
Image source, Getty ImagesIpswich boss Kieran McKenna has hailed his team's "quality and resilience" after being named Championship manager of the month for December.
Town won four of their seven games last month, including a 2-0 victory away to leaders Coventry City, and were beaten only once.
"This award is credit to everyone involved with the team and also the supporters, because it was a really challenging December with lots of games and lots of travel," McKenna told the club website., external
"Although not every game went our way, we really stuck at it and showed lots of quality and resilience. That took a lot of effort from everyone and it's especially pleasing for us to win this award in a month which asked so much of us.
"We know it will take a big, big effort over the next few months and it's now about everyone continuing to work hard, sticking together and seeing where we are at the end of the season."
McKenna was chosen by the judging panel ahead of fellow nominees Watford's Javi Gracia, Sergej Jakirovic of Hull City and Swansea head coach Vitor Matos.
It is McKenna's sixth Manager of the Month award, and he was also named EFL Championship manager of the season in 2024.
Ipswich are third in the table, just two points behind second-placed Middlesbrough but with a game in hand, and are at home to Blackburn Rovers on Saturday.
Image source, OptaSouthampton will look to get back on track as they host playoff-chasing Hull City on Saturday (15:00 GMT).
After going winless in six Championship games either side of Christmas, claiming just three points, Saints start the day in 15th, nine points clear of the drop-zone and eight adrift of the play-off places, though the highest they could climb with a win is 13th.
The Tigers are seventh, out of the play-offs on goal difference alone, after seeing a five-match unbeaten streak ended by a 1-0 defeat to Stoke in their most recent Championship game on 1 January.
Southampton have lost three of their past five league games against Hull (W1 D1), having won six in a row beforehand.
Hull City are looking for their first league double over Southampton since the 1950/51 campaign.
Southampton average the most possession (57.6%) in the Championship this season, while the Saints have also had the most build-up attacks (70), the most open play sequences with 10+ passes (340), the most passes per sequence (3.9) and longest average sequence time (10.5 seconds) in 2025/26.
Hull City have won 16 points in their past eight away Championship matches (W5 D1 L2) and since October only Coventry (18) have more away points than the Tigers (16). They have the best points per game in that time, however (2 per game).
Southampton's Adam Armstrong is the leading scorer in the Championship this season with 11 goals, while he's had the most shots (81) and shots on target (34), although he hasn't scored in his past six games. He did, however, net the Saints' only goal in a 3-1 defeat to Hull earlier this campaign
Image source, Getty ImagesSemi Ajayi has scored one league goal for Hull City this season
Hull City defender Semi Ajayi's hopes of lifting the Africa Cup of Nations title with Nigeria were ended in agonising fashion on Wednesday evening.
The Super Eagles held the hosts Morocco to a goalless draw in their semi-final in Rabat only to lose 4-2 on penalties.
Ajayi played the full 120 minutes of the last-four tie but was not required to take a penalty in the shootout.
Nigeria will now meet Egypt in the third-place play-off on Saturday (16:00 GMT) while Morocco will face Senegal in Sunday's final (19:00 GMT).
Image source, Getty ImagesIpswich boss Kieran McKenna, Watford's Javi Gracia, Sergej Jakirovic of Hull City and Swansea head coach Vitor Matos have been nominated for the Championship's manager of the month award for December.
McKenna has moved Ipswich into the top three and within two points of second-placed Middlesbrough after taking 14 points from their seven games last month, which included two wins over leaders Coventry.
Watford reappointed Gracia as head coach in October and an unbeaten run in December has pushed them into the play-off places, with the Hornets currently on a four-game winning run in the league.
Jakirovic has taken Hull City into promotion contention with wins at Middlesbrough and Millwall.
Swansea boss Matos started his reign with successive defeats but four wins from their six games in December has taken the Welsh side eight points clear of the relegation zone.
The winner will be announced on Friday, 16 January.
Stoke City are in advanced talks to sign Hull City full-back Cody Drameh on loan. (Sky Sports), external
The 24-year-old joined The Tigers from Leeds United in July 2024.
Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Wednesday's gossip column here.
Hull City defender Cody Drameh, 23, could now remain with the Tigers, having been linked with a January move away from the MKM Stadium. (Hull Daily Mail, external)
Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Tuesday's gossip column here.
Image source, ShutterstockSergej Jakirovic says the penalty shoot-out success over Blackburn was his first as a manager
Hull City head coach Sergej Jakirovic says he will have to wait for news of Darko Gyabi's injury.
Midfielder Gyabi lasted just 11 minutes of the Tigers' FA Cup shootout win over Blackburn Rovers after going down following a sharp turn.
Hull also lost Matt Crooks in the warm-up to a quad injury, although Jakirovic says his absence was more precautionary.
"We did not want to take the risk to put him to play," the Bosnian told BBC Radio Humberside. "We spoke together and our decision was to not play him.
"With Darko, it is more serious. He will have a medical check and then we will see after the scan what is the damage."
Image source, Getty ImagesThe 2025-26 FA Cup fourth-round draw will take place on Monday, 12 January at approximately 18:35 GMT.
Proceedings will take place before kick-off in the third-round tie between Liverpool and Barnsley at Anfield.
Former England internationals Steven Gerrard and Joe Cole will conduct the draw that will consist of 32 teams live on TNT Sports.
Supporters can also follow the draw on the BBC Sport website and app.
All matches will be played around the weekend commencing Saturday, 14 February.
Unlike in previous years, there are no replays if matches end as a draw. All ties will go to extra time, and if necessary, a penalty shootout.
Non-league Macclesfield are the lowest-ranked team in the draw after beating holders Crystal Palace in a remarkable 2-1 victory.
What are the ball numbers?
1. Wolverhampton Wanderers
2. Southampton
3. Aston Villa
4. Port Vale
5. Wigan Athletic
6. Ipswich Town
7. Wrexham
8. Chelsea
9. Manchester City
10. West Ham United
11. Brentford
12. Fulham
13. Sunderland
14. Liverpool or Barnsley
15. Burnley
16. Norwich City
17. Arsenal
18. Leeds United
19. West Bromwich Albion
20. Salford City or Swindon Town
21. Burton Albion
22. Grimsby Town
23. Hull City
24. Newcastle United
25. Oxford United
26. Leicester City
27. Birmingham City
28. Bristol City
29. Stoke City
30. Macclesfield
31. Brighton & Hove Albion
32. Mansfield Town
Pundits Dion Dublin and Phil Jones join host Kelly Somers to bring you the action and talking points from Sunday's FA Cup ties.
And listen back to selected full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:
