Bruce welcomes his selection headache

STEVE BRUCE admits the polished midweek performances of striking duo Jay Simpson and Aaron Mclean have given him plenty to ponder ahead of this afternoon’s home clash with Bolton.

The duo are the only players to find the net so far this term for the Tigers and they did their cause no harm at all with a goal apiece on a bittersweet night at Doncaster in the Capital One Cup on Tuesday.

Simpson, making his first start of the season, posed Rovers considerable problems with his movement, while Mclean also impressed as they showed their colours to the watching Bruce.

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The Tigers chief has started summer recruits Sone Aluko and £2.6m man Nick Proschwitz up front in City’s last two Championship matches – with both yet to get off the mark this term – and the Geordie admits to having a welcome selection dilemma ahead of today’s Trotters’ test.

On Simpson and Mclean, Bruce said: “They have given me food for thought. I thought they were sharp and certainly a handful at Doncaster. Jay Simpson’s come to life; I have to say that. In pre-season, he did well and got another goal and it gives us another option as he was out of the picture for a long time. He did very, very well.

“But then again, Aluko has probably been my best player all season. So it’s a good dilemma to have.

“Doncaster was a frustrating night, but there were plenty of positives to take from it still.

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“I was delighted with how we played in the first half. Some of the football we played was excellent; they didn’t have a kick of the ball.”

Egyptian winger Ahmed Elmohamady is poised for his Tigers debut today following his season-long loan move from Sunderland.

Ex-Wearsiders boss Bruce has been on the 24-year-old’s trail for several months, having first brought him to England in 2010.

Seyi Olofinjana is favourite to replace the suspended Paul McKenna.

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Meanwhile, defender Liam Cooper has turned down a loan move to Portsmouth in order to fight for his place at the KC Stadium.

Loan signing Jay Spearing is set to make his debut for Wanderers, who will be without the injured duo of Josh Vela and David Ngog. Ex-Huddersfield loan striker Benik Afobe is set to feature despite picking up a knock in Tuesday’s Capital One Cup exit at Crawley.