City Begin Life Without Ashbee

Craig Fagan - injured (Photo © Corred)

The City captain could be out for the rest of the season with a fractured knee. With Keith Andrews also out for at least two months with damaged ankle ligaments, that leaves John Welsh as the only natural replacement. He'll be partnered by either Curtis Woodhouse or Stuart Green in central midfield. Nick Barmby is tipped to get the captain's armband.

He'll be partnered up front by loan signing Chris Brown, who is making his Tigers debut since joining from Sunderland. Regular starter Craig Fagan is ruled out with a back injury and Steve McPhee is also still missing, although Ben Burgess should be back from a hamstring injury to take a place on the bench.

Peter Taylor also has centre back Leon Cort available again, and must decide whether he'd be a better option than Damien Delaney or Danny Coles in dealing with Crystal Palace's likely frontline of Andy Johnson and Clinton Morrison.

Leon Cort - back from month-long absence (Photo © Corred)

All three of them could well play, with Coles able to move to right-back in the continued absence of Mark Lynch. It was hoped he may have recovered from a knee injury sustained on the opening day of the season by now, but he's not quite ready to play yet. Ryan France and Scott Wiseman are other options, but Marc Joseph serves the second game of a three-match suspension.

Matt Duke is available again after returning from his loan spell at Stockport. The two clubs couldn't agree on the length of time to extend the deal for, so he is back with City to compete with Sergio Leite for a place on the bench.

Expected line-up (4-4-2): Boaz Myhill; Danny Coles, Leon Cort, Damien Delaney, Andy Dawson; Jason Price, John Welsh, Curtis Woodhouse, Stuart Elliott; Chris Brown, Nick Barmby.
Subs: Sergio Leite, Scott Wiseman, Ryan France, Stuart Green, Ben Burgess.