Preview: Burnley vs. Hull City

Bottom-of-the-table Burnley begin a crucial run of Premier League fixtures when they welcome Hull City to Turf Moor on Saturday afternoon.

Sean Dyche's side are without victory in 10 games since their promotion from the Championship, but may fancy their chances against an injury-plagued Tigers side versus whom they boast a dominant recent record.

The Clarets have won seven of their last eight meetings with City and claimed a double over them in 2009-10 - their last campaign in the top flight.

It has all been doom and gloom for Burnley so far this season, but three points this weekend would give them a much-needed boost of belief going into some more winnable games after the international break.

The Lancashire outfit have home matches against Newcastle United and Aston Villa, as well as trips to Stoke City and fellow strugglers Queens Park Rangers to look forward to before a daunting festive schedule.

How they perform across these five matches could go a long way to determining their survival chances, although many have already written them and their comparatively tiny budget off as relegation certainties.

Hull are currently 14th and have only won twice this term, but the drop should not be on their agenda after a summer of wise investment into a squad which consolidated themselves in the Premier League last season.

Steve Bruce is seeing his ranks stretched, though, by a lengthening injury list which now includes son Alex Bruce as well as goalkeepers Steve Harper and Allan McGregor, Michael Dawson, Nikica Jelavic and Robert Snodgrass.

Third-choice stopper Eldin Jakupovic, whose error gifted Southampton a 1-0 win at the KC Stadium last Saturday, will continue to deputise in between the sticks and Paul McShane the same in defence.

Saints loanee Gaston Ramirez is available again after missing the clash with his parent club, but Hatem Ben Arfa is likely to be preferred as the creative player to operate behind lone forward Abel Hernandez.

Dyche has been reluctant to part from his 4-4-2 formation and so will have to decide between goalless pair Lukas Jutkiewicz and Marvin Sordell as strike partner for Danny Ings, with Sam Vokes still sidelined.

Influential midfielder Dean Marney made his return in the 3-0 defeat at Arsenal and will keep his place in a midfield which will also include George Boyd, who left Hull to join Burnley for £3m on transfer deadline day.

Recent form

Burnley: LLLDLD

Hull: LDDWLL

Possible starting lineups

Burnley: Heaton; Trippier, Duff, Shackell, Ward; Arfield, Marney, Jones, Boyd; Ings, Jutkiewicz

Hull: Jakupovic; Chester, McShane, Davies; Elmohamady, Huddlestone, Livermore, Diame, Robertson; Ben Arfa, Hernandez

Sports Mole says: 1-0