Shane poised for Long-awaited Hull debut

Shane Long will make his Hull debut at Crystal Palace tonight, nearly five months after being won over by manager Steve Bruce.

The Republic of Ireland striker was set to join the Tigers in a deadline day switch from West Brom on September 2, only for the Baggies to pull the plug when their own pursuit of Romelu Lukaku fell through.

That left Long sitting with Bruce at Hull’s training ground in Cottingham when both men realised the transfer was off.