History suggests that the team bottom of the Premier League on Boxing Day is almost doomed for the drop.

In only two Premier League seasons has a club in this position escaped relegation - West Bromwich Albion in 2004-05 and Sunderland as recently as last campaign.

Leicester City are the side who face this daunting escape mission this term, but it so easily could have been Hull City - their opponents at the KC Stadium on Sunday.

The Tigers may have fallen to the foot of the table had they lost to Sunderland and Leicester beaten Tottenham Hotspur last time out.

However, they recovered from going behind inside 40 seconds to win 3-1 at the Stadium of Light and climb out of the bottom three, while luckless Leicester somehow lost 2-1 at home to Spurs.

Foxes manager Nigel Pearson was cursing their poor fortune following a 10th defeat in 11 Premier League games, in which they struck the woodwork twice and were denied by the brilliance of Hugo Lloris.

Hull's victory on Wearside ended their own run of 10 games without a win, but came amid controversy as Steve Bruce admitted that a couple of penalty shouts against them for handball went in their favour.

Many of Bruce's promotion squad did the business against the Black Cats, and he must decide whether to stick or twist by recalling record signing Abel Hernandez and Jake Livermore, who is back from a ban.

Tom Huddlestone and James Chester are suspended, though, while Mohamed Diame, Andrew Robertson, Michael Dawson and Robert Snodgrass remain injured, so options to rotate are not what they could be.

Striker Nikica Jelavic is the most likely to be brought back into the fold after coming off the bench to score against Sunderland. Loanee Gaston Ramirez should keep his place after netting his first Hull goal.

The under-pressure Pearson is without suspended forward Jamie Vardy and so must choose whether to give David Nugent another starting opportunity alongside Leonardo Ulloa, or revert to a 4-5-1 formation.

Decorated midfielder Esteban Cambiasso is experiencing his first footballing festivities and may be restored in the centre of the park, having been giving a Boxing Day rest. Andy King is the most likely to be sacrificed.

Ben Hamer, whose mistake cost them against Spurs at the King Power Stadium, will continue to deputise in goal for the injured Kasper Schmeichel, while Danny Simpson has usurped Richie de Laet at right-back.

This is the first ever top-flight meeting between these two sides.

Hull:

Recent form: LDDLLW

Possible starting lineup: McGregor; Elmohamady, Davies, Bruce, Rosenior, Brady; Livermore, Meyler, Quinn; Ramirez, Jelavic

Leicester:

Recent form: DLLLLL

Possible starting lineup: Hamer; Simpson, Morgan, Wasilewski, Konchesky; Mahrez, Cambiasso, Drinkwater, Schlupp; Nugent, Ulloa

Sports Mole says: 2-1