TEAM NEWS

Manchester City playmaker David Silva could make his first start in nearly two months in the League Cup quarter-final against Hull.

Manuel Pellegrini brought him on against Southampton and is not due to make any major changes from that side, with keeper Joe Hart still injured.

Hull have defender Andy Robertson back after a one-match ban but Michael Dawson (hamstring) remains absent.

Winger Robert Snodgrass could make his first appearance of the season.

WHAT THE MANAGERS SAY

Manchester City boss Pellegrini: "We will see, with the medical staff, the way they [Silva and Hart] recover. Maybe we are going to make some changes but not so many as Pablo Zabaleta, Vincent Kompany, Eliaquim Mangala and Samir Nasri are all out of this game.

"So, especially in defending, we cannot make so many changes. We will see in the other positions which is the best team to start.

"Maybe for teams that are out of some competitions - the Champions League or the Capital One Cup - it is easier to play in the Premier League. But we always want to continue in all the competitions."

Hull boss Steve Bruce: "We have got to have the belief that we can go and take them on. Last year in the Premier League we caused them a few problems.

"Up until Friday we hadn't been beaten for four months. We've had a really consistent run - we've only lost three out of 22 games, and so we can feel a bit confident.

"Once it gets to this stage everybody takes it seriously, The big clubs traditionally have used it to see if their young players are good enough, but once you get to this stage Manchester City will be looking and thinking 'Arsenal are out, Chelsea are out, Manchester United are out', so there's a path forward for them and we also have to think the same thing."

MATCH FACTS

• Manchester City have lost just one of their last nine meetings with Hull in all competitions (W5 D3).
• Hull's only victory in any competition away against Manchester City came in the FA Cup in 1930, defeating them 2-1 in round five. Since then, they are winless in nine visits (D3 L6).
• The only previous League Cup tie between the two sides came in October 1963, as Manchester City ran out 3-0 winners in round three.
• This is unchartered territory for Hull, having never made it past round four of the League Cup before this season.
• Manchester City have won their last six League Cup ties against sides from a lower division, scoring 24 times and conceding just two.
• Hull have progressed from three of their last four League Cup matches against teams from a higher division, including both round three and four fixtures this campaign.
• The Citizens have hit five goals or more in four of their last five at Etihad Stadium in this competition, failing to score in the other v Newcastle in October 2014.
• The Tigers have conceded two or more goals in six of their last seven games on the road in the League Cup.