Hull City Fan View: Marco Silva must turn to Tom Huddlestone in one last roll of the dice

If Hull City are indeed relegated at the end of this season, last Saturday’s disastrous defeat against Sunderland at the KCOM will surely be the game that did it for the Tigers.

Despite a fantastic performance from Jordan Pickford in the Sunderland goal, Marco Silva’s men looked nervous and never really in control of the game.

This simply cannot be allowed to happen against Crystal Palace on Sunday.

City must be as calm and confident as possible, and with Lazar Markovic ruled out for the rest of the season, surely Tom Huddlestone is the man to replace him in midfield and provide some much needed composure and experience.

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What do I also say about ‘Typical City’? Going into last weekend City’s fate was very much in our own hands, however, after losing to an already relegated Sunderland followed by Swansea’s miraculous win against Everton, Marco Silva’s men are now relying on other results, and it’s looking bleak. This weekend City travel to Shelhurst Park knowing it is likely anything other than a win will not be good enough to keep our survival bid alive.

In terms of mathematics, this is where it gets complicated. Looking at Swansea, the Tigers could send them down with two draws from our two remaining fixtures, if the Swans fail to pick up another point. Similarly just one City win would be enough if Clement’s men only manage one point for their final two games. However, with Sunderland and West Brown their final two opponents, this looks unlikely. Troublingly, if Swansea win just one game, only two Hull victories will be enough. Meaning it could be all over for the Tigers come Sunday evening.

Attentions now turning to Crystal Palace, only two City wins will see Allardyce’s men relegated, starting with a win over them this weekend. Palace would then have to lose at Old Trafford on the final day, while City would have to beat Spurs at the KCOM. Unlikely, but stranger things have happened.

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As I have discussed in the past, until his untimely suspension following a dubious red card against Everton, Huddlestone appeared to be really benefiting from Silva’s appointment and was looking a vital cog in the new manager’s plans. As a result, his form visibly benefited and Huddlestone began to produce the type of performances we have only seen glimpses of over the last three-and-a-half years – recreating the sort of form that he displayed during his first season with the Tigers, culminating in the club’s FA Cup run in the 2013/14 season.

While his suspension along with a new formation, which utilised the likes of Grosicki and Markovic on the flanks, has seen him return to the bench of late, surely he must start on Sunday. This is an opinion shared by the vast majority of the Hull City faithful, and even local pundits, with former City player Peter Swan commenting that Huddlestone is a ‘must-start’ on Sunday.

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Simply put, while Saturday’s game is huge for the future of the club, for this very reason it is not a game the players can afford to choke in. Despite calling for two strikers to start all season, after last weekend’s failed experiment I think it is clear Marco Silva will opt for his preferred 4-5-1 formation. With Markovic injured, surely the impressive Sam Clucas will be moved onto the flank, and Huddlestone will start in the centre of the park. In which case, I would start with an eleven of Jakupovic, Elmohamady, Maguire, Ranocchia, Robertson, Clucas, Huddlestone, N’Diaye, Grosicki, Evandro and Niasse. If the enigma that is Tom Huddlestone is ever to produce the match-winning performance we all know he is capable of, please, for the sake of the Hull City faithful, let it come on Sunday afternoon.