Hello, and welcome to Sports Mole's coverage of the match in the Premier League between Hull City and Manchester United.

Firstly, I hope that everyone had a enjoyable Christmas Day. If, like me, you spent a lot of your time on Football Manager 2014, it would have got you up for a feast of Boxing Day football, that Sports Mole will bring you throughout the day.

First up, we have Manchester United's trip to the KC Stadium to play Hull City, but following this match, we will have all of the remaining Premier League encounters of the day as teams try to end 2013 on a high.

BREAKING TEAM NEWS! Darren Fletcher starts for Manchester United for the first time since returning from illness. Full team news to follow.

HULL CITY XI: McGregor; Bruce, Chester, Davies, Elmohamady, Figueroa; Meyler, Huddlestone, Livermore; Graham, Sagbo

MANCHESTER UNITED XI: De Gea; Rafael, Evra, Evans, Smalling; Fletcher, Cleverley, Valencia, Young; Welbeck, Rooney

HULL CITY SUBSTITUTES: Harper, Rosenior, Faye, McShane, Koren, Boyd, Fryatt

MANCHESTER UNITED SUBSTITUTES: Lindegaard, Vidic, Fabio, Carrick, Kagawa, Januzaj, Hernandez

The return of Darren Fletcher dominates the team news at the KC Stadium. The Scot has endured a turbulent time in trying to overcome ulcerative colitis, but after making two substitute appearances in December, David Moyes has opted to hand him a start against the Tigers this afternoon.

Striker Danny Welbeck had also been considered a doubt, but he partners Wayne Rooney in attack, but there are no places in the 18-man squad for either Rio Ferdinand or Phil Jones.

As for Hull, they are unchanged for the fourth game in a row after securing three successive draws in the Premier League. The Tigers have found goals hard to come by lately, but Steve Bruce will be hoping that his strikers can rise to the occasion against the league champions.

During the opening seven days of the month, Manchester United and David Moyes were in disarray after drawing with Tottenham Hotspur and falling to back-to-back defeats at Old Trafford to Everton and Newcastle United. With United languishing in eighth position, the pressure was beginning to build on Moyes, but the Scot has started to turn things around with four wins in a row in all competitions. Can they make it a fifth this afternoon?

Hull have enjoyed a fine return to the Premier League under Steve Bruce. The Tigers had been expected to be in the bottom two positions at the turn of the year, but after collecting 20 points from 17 fixtures, Hull are currently seven points above the relegation zone in 12th position. The visitors will be favourites this afternoon, but after recently beating Liverpool on their own turf, Hull will be confident of recording a positive result.

KEY BATTLE! Today's result could depend on how well Curtis Davies deals with the threat of Wayne Rooney and Danny Welbeck. Davies has undoubtedly been the Yorkshire outfit's player of the campaign, but he will be severely tested by the England duo over the 90 minutes. Rooney has impressed since August, while Welbeck had started to hit form in the past 14 days.

There are just over 15 minutes left until kickoff at the KC Stadium. How do you see this match panning out?

PREDICTION! Much could depend on how much Christmas turkey was eaten by each side, but if Manchester United continue the form of the past four matches, they should have enough in the tank to win today. Hull with be hoping Graham and Sagbo can cause the United defence some tricky moments in the opening 20 minutes, but if the visitors come through that, they should record a comfortable win. 2-0 to United.

Manchester United were apparently caught up in a traffic jam on the way to the ground. It will be interesting to see whether their late arrival will have any impact on their start to the game.

The reason for Phil Jones's absence this afternoon is that he has suffered a knee injury during training. He is expected to be out for two weeks.

The two teams have walked out onto the pitch at the KC Stadium. There's a boisterous atmosphere inside the ground!

Hull get us underway.

Early free kick for Hull after Antonio Valencia barged into the back of Maynor Figueroa. Tom Huddlestone curled the ball into the box, but it was easily cleared.

Remember what I said about that traffic jam? Hull City take the lead from a corner that they shouldn't have been awarded. Alex Bruce won the initial header and former United defender James Chester volleyed the ball into the roof of the net from close range. What a start for Hull!

Going back to the corner, it looked as though Tom Cleverley had diverted the ball out for a corner, but on second viewing, Ahmed Elmohamady sliced the ball straight out of play. You can't blame the referee for giving the decision, but it has turned out to be the wrong call.

OUCH! Ashley Young slides in on Allan McGregor as the ball goes free in the penalty area, and the winger has caught the goalkeeper. It's a painful one for the Hull stopper, but Young was entitled to make the challenge.

Manchester United are a shambles at the back! David Meyler and Yannick Sagbo combine well before the ball pinged around the penalty area. The ball returned to Meyler who scuffed a shot towards goal that was deflected past David De Gea by Jonny Evans. The deflection made the difference, but Meyler will try to claim it.

This has been an unbelievable start at the KC Stadium. The place is absolutely rocking, and the visitors look shell-shocked.

SUBSTITUTION! Rafael has pulled his groin, and he has been replaced by Adnan Januzaj. He has moved into midfield, with Valencia dropping back into defence.

This game is relentless! Maynor Figueroa is booked for a foul on Adnan Januzaj to give United a free kick on the right. The ball was curled into the box for Smalling to direct the ball into the far corner.

SAVE! It's very nearly 2-2! Cleverly lets flies from distance that forces McGregor to sprawl across his line to prevent the ball from finding the top corner. What a game!

This is brilliant! And we are only midway through the first half. United are very much on top now.

Pick that one out! Wayne Rooney and Danny Welbeck link up on the edge of the penalty area, before Rooney unleashes a blistering volley from 25 yards that flies past McGregor. That was Rooney's 150th Premier League goal.

I don't know about the players needing a break at half time - I think I do too! The action has been non-stop. Steve Bruce's face is of someone who has just been given socks for Christmas. After a remarkable start, his team are getting battered.

Hull need to find a way of stemming the tide and getting to the break still level. United have had nearly 70% of possession over the past 10 minutes.

BOOKING! Adnan Januzaj goes into the book for United for bringing down Ahmed Elmohamady. The free kick is in a dangerous position, but Huddlestone's delivery is poor.

Ever since that early challenge from Ashley Young, Allan McGregor has been struggling, and Steve Harper is warming up for Hull on the sidelines. It wouldn't be too much of a surprise if the Scot was withdrawn at the break.

EFFORT! Alex Bruce produces two of the hardest tackles that you are ever likely to see, and it helps his side break forward. The move ends with Danny Graham trying his luck from distance, but his effort is deflected marginally over the crossbar.

There will be three minutes of added-on time.

Hull are having to defend deep for the remaining couple of minutes. They need to hold firm here.

The referee calls a halt to the opening 45 minutes at the KC Stadium, and it has been a cracker of a game. The home side looked in control after two goals inside the opening 13 minutes, but United have struck back and look favourites to come out on top in the second half.

After their slow start, United have done superbly to have 63% of possession for the first half. They've also had one more shot on goal than their hosts, but they have committed eight of the 13 fouls in the game.

As I predicted earlier, Steve Harper looks ready to come on at the start of the second half. We are still awaiting official confirmation though.

It's confirmed now. Allan McGregor has been substituted, and so has David Meyler. It's a double change for Hull. Robert Koren has been introduced.

Manchester United get us started in the second half.

United have started the second half in the same manner as they finished the first, but despite a couple of openings, they have yet to trouble Harper. Hull need to get out of their own final third because they won't survive attempting to defend deep for 45 minutes.

SHOT! Danny Graham does well to get the ball to Yannick Sagbo, who is waiting on the edge of the penalty area. The Ivorian wastes no time in getting a shot away, but his powerful effort is straight at David de Gea, who punches the ball clear.

United force a corner after good work down the right from Ashley Young, but Rooney's set piece doesn't beat the first man.

Darren Fletcher tries a shot from 25 yards, but his shot is lacking any kind of power to trouble Harper. The Scot has done well on his first start this season, but you would expect him to be replaced soon.

BOOKING! Hull try to break through Yannick Sagbo, but he is hauled down by a struggling Antonio Valencia. That's the Ecuadorian out of United's clash with Norwich on Saturday.

WOODWORK! Hull hit the crossbar! A corner was whipped in from the right and Bruce rose highest to bullet a header off the underside of the bar, but United managed to clear. Fletcher has left the action to be replaced by Hernandez.

Heartbreak for Chester! Danny Welbeck found Ashley Young on the right, and the winger delivered a teasing ball into the box for James Chester to head into his own net under pressure from Wayne Rooney. He should have done better with that...

David Moyes is having a right go at Hull's Ahmed Elmohamady. I have no idea what for!

Danny Welbeck turns Alex Bruce on the edge of the penalty area to draw the foul out of the Republic of Ireland international. Wayne Rooney is getting ready to take it...

The England attacker curls the ball a couple of yards wide of the left-hand post, and gets himself booked for arguing with the referee for failing to award a corner. I'm not sure why he wants a corner - there was no sign of a deflection.

Steve Bruce has thrown on George Boyd in an attempt to try to salvage something from this match, while Manchester United are about to introduce Michael Carrick, who is returning from injury.

There's 10 minutes remaining at the KC Stadium. Hull haven't been in this game since James Chester's own goal, so it is going to take something miraculous for them to earn a point from this match.

The home side are throwing a couple of half-decent balls into the box, but they are being repelled by Chris Smalling and Jonny Evans. Seven minutes to go.

CHANCE! Yannick Sagbo wins a challenge with Patrice Evra down the right before crossing the ball to the back post for Graham. However, the former Swansea City man can't get enough power on his header and it is easily saved by David de Gea.

RED CARD! Antonio Valencia has been dismissed for picking up a second yellow card for kicking the ball away. Crazy. United will play the remaining three minutes of added-on time with 10 men.

CHANCE! What a chance! George Boyd does superbly to find James Chester on the left-hand side of the penalty area, and although his first touch is a little heavy, he has a clear chance on goal, but it's well blocked by David de Gea.

CHANCE! Another chance. This time for Alex Bruce. Danny Graham leaves the ball for the defender, but he hooks his shot wide of the target. That will be that.

The match ends with the home supporters on their feet for their team's efforts, but it's Manchester United who have come from 2-0 behind to win this match at the KC Stadium.

It was a excellent effort from the Tigers, but United deserve their win today. Their performance threatened to unravel in the closing stages, but David Moyes will be proud of his players for hitting back from an early deficit.

That will be all from Sports Mole for this match. Thank you for joining us, but please stick around for comprehensive coverage of the remaining Premier League fixtures this afternoon. Goodbye for now.