Hull City vs Middlesbrough LIVE commentary: Kick-off time, team news and how to follow Championship play-off final

Hull City face Middlesbrough in the Championship play-off final at Wembley Stadium this weekend.

The two sides meet in the ‘richest game in football’ for a place in next season’s Premier League.

Anna Gowthorpe

It comes after Boro were reinstated at the expense of Southampton following the Spygate scandal.

Saints’ appeal against the decision was dismissed, with the clash between Hull and Boro confirmed for Saturday afternoon.

Both clubs will now be looking to end their nine-year absence from the top-flight, with Hull even dropping into League One in that time.

The Tigers beat Millwall in the semi-finals to book their place at Wembley, having finished one place behind Boro in sixth this season.

Their Championship meeting at the MKM Stadium in December saw Boro secure a 4-1 away win, only for Hull to win the reverse fixture 1-0 three weeks later.

Hull have twice been promoted to the Premier League via the play-offs, whilst Boro achieved the feat in 1988 to climb into the First Division.

Hull City vs Middlesbrough: Date & how to follow

The Championship play-off final is scheduled for Saturday, May 23, with kick-off at 3.30pm.

Sky Sports will have live coverage of the match from Wembley Stadium on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Football.

Meanwhile, live commentary will also be available on talkSPORT.

Adrian Durham presents live coverage of the contest from 2pm.

Anna Gowthorpe

To listen via the talkSPORT website, click HERE for the livestream.

You can also tune in on the talkSPORT app here, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.

Hull City vs Middlesbrough: Team news

Hull have been handed a double boost ahead of the play-off final, with Amir Hadziahmetovic and Cody Drameh fit to return.

The EFL have also approved the inclusion of David Akintola in their squad in place of long-term absentee Eliot Matazo.

Kyle Joseph will miss out, though, after suffering an ankle injury against Millwall.

Manchester United loanee Toby Collyer is also sidelined with a similar issue.

Andrew Fosker

As for Boro, manager Kim Hellberg has confirmed that Hayden Hackney is available this weekend.

The Championship player of the season has been out of action since March.

Tommy Conway has been ruled out, with the Scotland forward requiring surgery on an ankle injury sustained against Southampton.

He joins long-term absentees Alfie Jones and Darragh Lenihan on the treatment table.

Hull City vs Middlesbrough: What’s been said?

Hull boss Sergej Jakirovic reflected on the decision to reinstate Boro during his pre-match press conference.

The Bosnian told reporters: “For sure it’s a relief because since Tuesday evening we knew who we were playing against.

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“We prepared for at least seven days for Southampton because they won in the semi-finals and then, from Tuesday evening, we started to prepare for this game against Middlesbrough.

“Maybe it’s a little bit short, but we already faced Southampton twice and Middlesbrough, so we know everything about them and they know everything about us, so we will see on Saturday.

“I’m optimistic because we had a few very good sessions. I can say it like this, our main focus when we reached the finals was this game.

“No matter who our opponent was, our focus and concentration is on our team, what we can do there, how we can use our advantages.”

Meanwhile, Hellberg said: “It’s been a crazy time, back and forth with a lot of emotions from losing the game, to being involved and trying to keep your head in the game for what may happen. I’m very happy to be here.

“The punishment is not for me to decide and I was never talking about punishment when I talked about it, either. I talked about my emotions.

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“Since I arrived here, I’ve tried to be honest, tried to be open, not using ‘no comment’ or being like that. I’ve tried to be open with my emotions and it was never about anything other than that.

“I had nothing to do with the decision or punishment or what is right or wrong, I just talked about my emotions through the situation.

“Southampton is a big organisation. Of course, I have a lot of sympathy for supporters paying for tickets, thinking they were going to Wembley.

“There’s a lot of sympathy for different things; for our fans and for Hull supporters.

“It’s been weird for a lot of different teams and supporters. It’s not fair to them, but it also comes from the decision they have made.”