FA Cup rule change could punish Chelsea as Hull City get big boost for fourth-round clash

Hull City have received a boost ahead of their FA Cup clash with Chelsea at the MKM Stadium on Friday night

Hull City will welcome back Yu Hirakawa for Friday evening's FA Cup tie against Chelsea at the MKM Stadium after the Japan international was unavailable for the Championship loss to Bristol City. Hirakawa watched on from the stands as the Tigers fell 3-2 to Gerhard Struber's side on Saturday, due to the terms of his loan arrangement with the Ashton Gate outfit.

January signing Hirakawa is available for the FA Cup fixture despite featuring for Bristol City in the third round. This follows a rule change implemented at the start of the campaign which permits players to represent two different clubs in the competition during the same season.

Without the change, Hirakawa would have been deemed cup-tied and consequently unable to participate in this match as well. However, his availability provides Hull boss Sergej Jakirovic with a welcome boost.

City's squad may also benefit from the return of Cody Drameh following a nine-match spell on the sidelines with a quadriceps injury. Drameh has been out of action since the 2-0 home defeat to Ipswich Town in late November and came close to moving on in January before sustaining his injury.

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Drameh's return gives Jakirovic the option to rotate on the right flank of his backline against the Blues. Meanwhile, Eliot Matazo is nearing a much-anticipated comeback from injury after being sidelined since suffering an ACL injury in the defeat at Cardiff City in late February of last year.

Matazo has resumed light training, with hopes of rejoining the first-team squad next month. Whilst this represents a delay from initial expectations, the midfielder has encountered complications during his rehabilitation that have pushed back his return. Matt Crooks, Mo Belloumi, Darko Gyabi and Semi Ajayi continue to be unavailable through injury.

Chelsea go into the game missing a number of players themselves. Levi Colwill remains a long-term absentee while Jamie Gittens joined him on the sidelines after picking up a hamstring injury against West Ham in January.

Romeo Lavia is closing in on a return after being out of action since November but this game is expected to come too soon for the Belgian. Reece James and Tosin Adarabioyo are also nearing comebacks after missing the midweek meeting with Leeds United.

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Liam Rosenior's side go into the cup game after throwing away a 2-0 lead to draw with Leeds. Joao Pedro and Cole Palmer scored for the London side before Lukas Nmecha and Noah Okafor pegged them back, while manager Rosenior issued an injury update on Marc Cucurella after the defender was forced off.

"Unfortunately at half-time he felt his hamstring," Rosenior said. 'It wasn’t a tactical change, it was one that was enforced. Cucu’s been top and hopefully he’ll be okay. We’ll scan him and make sure we find out if he’s available for the next game."