We're off, which way do you see this one going?

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Before we get started today, Hull will be remembering those connected to the club who have been lost over the past year.

Michael O'Neill has shaken-up his team, making four changes including handing a debut to Phil Jagielka who only joined the club yesterday.

Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Tommy Smith and Josh Tymon also come into the side.

Another new recruit, Lewis Baker, who joined from Chelsea, settles for a place on the bench, and it's a first league start for Ian Wright's grandson D'Margio Wright-Phillips.

Keeper Jack Bonham retains his place after starting their FA Cup third round win over Leyton Orient last weekend.

Grant McCann makes a couple of changes as he brings in the experienced midfielder Tom Huddlestone and Ryan Longman.

They replace Richie Smallwood and Randell Williams, who are on the bench today.

Ged Scott
BBC Sport

Stoke City boss Michael O'Neill was this week forced to isolate after testing positive for Covid. But it has not stopped him magically pulling a rabbit from the hat by signing former England defender Phil Jagielka on a free transfer.

Jagielka was hoping to stay at Derby, where he has been in sound form this season. But when on Friday the EFL refused to sanction a contract extension as they wait for proof of funding for the rest of the season from Derby's administrators, he was released by the Rams - and Stoke stepped in to sign the 39-year-old.

Stoke have been looking for a new centre-half since Australia international Harry Souttar was sidelined for the season after getting injured on World Cup duty in November - and they were initially linked with his big brother John, the Hearts and Scotland stopper, until it was revealed on Friday that he has now signed a pre-contract agreement with Scottish champions Rangers.

Image source, Rex Features

But Jagielka's availability has been an unexpected bonus - and he comes in for an immediate debut, while midfielder Lewis Baker, the Potters' other new signing from Chelsea, is on the bench.

Having only joined Wayne Rooney's Rams on a short-term deal in the summer after being released by Sheffield United, the 40-times capped former England international has been on the losing side just six times in 20 league games for the bottom club.

Having last summer lost his brother Steve, with whom he was only briefly team-mates in his first spell at Bramall Lane, it also means an emotional chance to play for Stoke, the club where the elder of the two Jagielka brothers began his career.

Ged Scott
BBC Sport

Stoke City’s fourth season back in the Championship can pretty neatly be divided into two contrasting halves.

There were just two defeats - and six Nick Powell goals - from their first 11 games as they soared to third in the league under Michael O’Neill, even getting to within a point of top spot.

Powell’s prolific start to the season, including one to help beat his old club Hull City and another to down leaders West Brom, was then ended only by a challenge from Bournemouth’s Jefferson Lerma in mid-October that left him with a fractured fibia.

Image source, Getty Images

Stoke went on to lose that game, have lost more five since - and Powell’s likely comeback date is already a month overdue, delayed first by a Covid scare and then by the realisation of a scan which showed that the leg break had not healed as quickly as the club had hoped.

The Potters have won just four league games in three months, having picked up just 14 points out of a possible 39 and have slumped to eighth, 13 points off the second of the automatic promotion places and even five adrift of the top six.

Whether they can pick up the pace again appears to depend on how quickly they can get Powell back - or even whether they have the funds to bring in a worthy replacement in the January window.

Image source, Rex Features

Grant McCann's Hull come into the game without a win in four games, with a run of two draws followed by two defeats.

Their last Championship action was more than two weeks ago and saw them fall to a 1-0 defeat away at Blackpool on New Year's Day.

But their current run comes off the back of four consecutive wins, conceding one goal in the process in November, and if they can get back to anything like that form they should be able to steer clear of danger.

There's plenty of reason for optimism following last week's FA Cup third round outing, when they took Premier League Everton to extra time, only to fall to Andros Townsend's late goal.

Image source, Rex Features

Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of today's sole Championship fixture.

After a bumper day of action yesterday we are focusing on Stoke against Hull, who are both looking to pick up three points after some indifferent form.

Tenth-placed Stoke haven't won in three and are looking to get back in the playoff mix, while Hull, in 19th, are looking to put some daylight between themselves and the relegation places.

So, let's all agree to ban any use of the word 'cricket' and take a closer look at today's match.