Keeper Lewis Price is considered a doubt for Town's first ever game at Hull City's KC Stadium on Wednesday evening (KO 7.45pm). Price has travelled with the squad and faces a fitness test on a groin injury.

The Wales international appeared to be having trouble kicking throughout the 2-0 home defeat to Crystal Palace on Boxing Day and Shane Supple stands by to take over should Price fail to make it.

Town are likely to name the same squad as for the Palace game with no third keeper available other than keeper-coach Andy Rhodes. Academy first-year Óskar Pétursson is back home in Iceland for Christmas.

Midfielder Kevin Horlock is over his knee problem but is short of fitness after his spell on the sidelines and needs more training before he will be considered for the first team.

Striker Adam Proudlock remains out with his knee injury, while Billy Clarke won't be back until mid-January after dislocating his elbow in the reserves and Sam Parkin is unavailable until well into the new year after breaking his ankle.

With experienced options short, Town are unlikely to be changed at the back against the Tigers, with Sito continuing on the left and Fabian Wilnis on the right. A new left-back is one of Joe Royle's priorities in the transfer window.

Darren Currie could drop to the bench as he generally has away from home in recent months with Danny Haynes or Dean McDonald perhaps coming in wide on the right or as a second striker should Joe Royle decide to switch to a 4-4-2 formation.

Skipper Jim Magilton may be in line for a recall in midfield with Owen Garvan and Ian Westlake both not long back from injury and games coming thick and fast over Christmas.

Hull are without defender Roland Edge due to a groin strain, while Ian Ashbee, Ben Burgess, Steve McPhee, Alton Thelwell and Danny Coles are long-term injury victims.

Striker Billy Paynter could be handed a start, as may former England midfielder Nick Barmby. Another likely starter is winger Ryan France who spent time on trial with the Blues in 2003 prior to joining the East Yorkshire club.

Wednesday's referee is Clive Oliver from Northumberland who has shown 52 yellow and two red cards in 21 games this season. Oliver has not previously taken control of a Town game.

Probable squad: Bowditch, Currie, De Vos, Forster, Garvan, Haynes, Juan, Magilton, McDonald, Naylor, Peters, Price, Richards, Sito, Supple, Westlake, Williams, Wilnis.

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