Friday 28 November 2014 13:15, UK
Hull City manager Steve Bruce thinks he is "due a result" against his former club Manchester United as his team begin a tough run of fixtures.
Bruce, who as a manager has never beaten his former club, is desperate for his side's poor run of form to end when they travel to Old Trafford in the Premier League on Saturday.
Hull have only won twice in the Premier League this season and have lost their last three league games.
Bruce, who played for United as a rugged central defender for nine years, told reporters on Friday: "I always enjoy going back there. I think I'm due a result. I've been going a long time and never been able to beat them. I've had a couple of draws, but that's about it."
I need every one of them to play to a level that will cause Manchester United a problem and catch them on a bit of an off day.
Bruce urged his players to use the United trip as an incentive to turn around their fortunes.
"I need every one of them to play to a level that will cause Manchester United a problem and catch them on a bit of an off day. There is not a lot wrong. We have just got to stay with it.
"We have got a really difficult run of games as we knew we had. Now we are coming to a big, critical part of the season. We have, staring in December, something like seven games coming up in a short period of time, so let's hope we can turn it around."
After the trip to Old Trafford, Hull go to Everton on Wednesday, host West Bromwich Albion the following Saturday, then travel to league leaders Chelsea a week later before hosting Swansea on December 20,
United endured a testing start to the season under new manager Louis van Gaal, but after two consecutive victories they have climbed into the top four and Bruce praised the Dutchman for the way he has handled an injury crisis at Old Trafford.
Whether you're Manchester United or Hull, you need your big players fit. I don't think you can judge anything until you get your strongest team fit.
"Very quietly they are now creeping in - they are now fourth. They've had unbelievable injuries, which they've dealt with," he said. "Has he (Van Gaal) been able to field his first-choice 11?
"They've been wracked with injuries, especially defensively. Marcus Rojo and Jonny Evans are key. Whether you're Manchester United or Hull, you need your big players fit. I don't think you can judge anything until you get your strongest team fit."
Hull midfielder Mohamed Diame is expected to return after missing Sunday's defeat by Tottenham with a knee problem, but striker Abel Hernandez is unavailable after returning to Uruguay for family reasons.
"There's one absentee and that's Hernandez," Bruce said. "He's gone to Uruguay to go and bring his baby home. He'll be missing Saturday and probably Wednesday."
