Jakirovic makes huge Matazo selection decision for crunch Charlton showdown

The Tigers boss, knowing he needed to force a result, opted to bring back Matazo for the first time since he ruptured his ACL in Cardiff back in late February last year, a span of 424 days.

Matazo has only played twice for the Under-21s in his comeback, which has seen him suffer a variety of setbacks in his rehab, but he has been given the chance to make an impact.

The Belgian’s return saw him come straight back into midfield alongside John Lundstram, replacing Mo Belloumi, who felt his hamstring on Tuesday night at Leicester City, but was fit enough to be on the bench. Matt Crooks pushed further forward to play off Oli McBurnie, with Joe Gelhardt moved wide.

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It's expected City will try to get at least 45 minutes out of the midfielder before resting him ahead of next weekend's final day meeting with Norwich City at the MKM Stadium. Regan Slater being on the bench provides the manager with a suitable replacement, himself coming back from injury, albeit only a short one.

There was no Yu Hirakawa in the matchday squad, though it's thought his absence isn't injury-related, just a squad make-up decision.

"This is for me the biggest doubt," Jakirovic said ahead of the trip to South London, which has seen the Tigers spend two nights in the capital to prepare for the early kick-off.

"I see that he's a very good footballer. He knows everything with the ball, but the Championship is not about the ball, it's about fitness conditions. Maybe we will take a risk and put him in to play.

"I can say I don't know him as a player because he played 14 months ago, just six appearances for Hull City before this injury, and then now in this moment of the season, we have to use him. It's not easy for him as well, but I still think he can help us, so we will see how many minutes that will be."

City: Pandur, Giles, Egan, Ajayi, Coyle ©, Matazo, Lundstram, Crooks, Millar, Gelhardt, McBurnie: Subs: Phillips, Belloumi, Slater, Joseph, Koumas, Famewo, Hughes, McNair, Dowell.

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