Tom Huddlestone: Hull are not intimidated by survival-specialist Tony Pulis as they prepare for relegation clash against West Brom

Two sides meet in relegation six-pointer on Saturday

The Hull City midfielder Tom Huddlestone says that his club are not intimidated by the likely effect of relegation survival-specialist Tony Pulis on West Bromwich Albion, as the two sides placed 15th and 17th prepare to meet on Saturday.

Huddlestone, 28, playing his first game back from suspension for Hull against Arsenal at the Emirates on Sunday in the 2-0 FA Cup third round defeat said that Pulis’ arrival would not necessarily be a decisive factor in the league game between West Brom and Hull on Saturday. The game at the Hawthorns will be Pulis’ first home league game in charge of the club.

“Obviously Crystal Palace were dead and buried last season and they came up and finished mid-table in the end [under Pulis]. It [changing managers] can work but equally Cardiff, Fulham and Norwich changed their managers and it didn’t benefit. So it can work both ways but clubs who have stuck by their managers have reaped the rewards as West Ham have shown this season.

New West Brom manager Tony Pulis (Getty Images)

“They [West Brom] will be geared up with a new manager but on the other hand he might have not had enough time to implement his ideas. We know it is a game that is going to come around and it is a massive game with the league positions of both clubs so hopefully we can go out there and do ourselves justice.”

He added: “The Everton and Sunderland wins were massive. We have a big game against West Brom at the weekend and that is half of a six pointer ... it’s been an up and down season and I think we have been unlucky in a few games, but there are only so many times you can say that. We have to knuckle down and start putting our chances away. Defensively we are looking more solid in the last couple of weeks.”

Huddlestone was back from a ban for his sending off against Chelsea. Hull have taken six points from nine in the last three games and Steve Bruce made ten changes against Arsenal from the side that beat Everton.

Huddlestone said: “I think at this time of the year some of the lads have played three games in six or seven days. With it being a cup game especially it would have been a bit foolish to maybe play someone four games in 11 days … but everyone trains well so it is a chance for the manager to give everyone a run out and let them perform on matchdays as well.”