Without one Manchester United reserve, it is unlikely Hull would have played Premier League football. Now 11 of them could ensure their stay in the top flight lasts a solitary season. It can be seen as the cyclical nature of football, or that what Sir Alex Ferguson gives, the Manchester United manager takes away. Hull were a mid-table Championship side when Phil Brown borrowed the comparatively unknown Fraizer Campbell.
He served as the catalyst for Hull's unforeseen rise. His 15 goals were allied with a cross that supplied a Wembley winner for Dean Windass in the Championship play-offs. Twelve months on, the same recipe has lost its flavour: one United squad member who is guaranteed not to play today is the Angolan forward Manucho, on loan at Hull and ineligible. His has been a meagre contribution, incorporating just two goals, and he has been unable to arrest Hull's decline.
Brown's friendship with Ferguson has been highlighted, though the imminence of the Champions League final means that, the unfortunate Darren Fletcher aside, his first team would have been saved for Barcelona, regardless of the opposition. It may constitute a fitness test for Rio Ferdinand but, he and Gary Neville apart, there is an unfamiliar look to a side that could have a group of Premier League debutants, in Ben Amos, Fabio da Silva, James Chester, Daniel Drinkwater and Lee Martin.
But Hull's task is to win. That they possess the Premier League's poorest home record bodes badly and hints at their failings. Their last league victory at the KC Stadium came in 2008 and there is much to regret in the subsequent months. Opportunities to secure safety have been squandered. At Middlesbrough, for example, the lightweight duo of Nick Barmby and Geovanni were chosen as two of the three central midfielders. Hull were duly over-run.
Against West Brom, the right winger Richard Garcia was selected as a striker. He missed a wonderful chance. Unconventional choices have been made, on and off the field. A fortnight after taking some of his players to Chester races and a week after the entire squad spent two days in the Lake District, they were given Thursday off. Every attempt at psychology has been made, though the most significant recent development may be last week's draw at Bolton, taking Hull out of the relegation zone.
"It's now back in our hands and I'm feeling a little bit better about myself," said Brown. "Sir Alex is a legend and a genius. We have no idea what side he will put out though everyone in the world of football is second-guessing it." Ferguson said: "We are expected to win. We will go to win. That is the responsibility we always have." Should United lose, the three imperilled North-East clubs, Newcastle, Sunderland and Middlesbrough, have grounds for grievance. Should Ferguson's motley crew prosper, meanwhile, the Championship may appear to exert a gravitational pull on Hull. What goes up, presumably, must come down. Promoted with United's assistance exactly a year ago, they could be relegated by their interference on the first anniversary of that day at Wembley.
rjolly@thenational.ae Hull City v Manchester United, KO 7pm, Showsports 4
Middlesbrough (32 points, -28 goal difference) Will go down unless they beat West Ham and Newcastle and Hull both lose. Even so, Boro would need to turn round a five-goal negative deficit on Hull. Newcastle (34 points, -18gd) Will go down if they lose. A draw would be enough to stay up on goal difference, if Hull lose. If they win and Hull or Sunderland drop points, Newcastle stay up. Hull (35 points, -24gd) Will stay up if they beat Manchester United. They can afford to draw or lose, but only if Newcastle also lose. Sunderland(36 points, -19gd) Safe with a win at home to Chelsea. Can lose or draw - unless Hull and Newcastle both win.
