Hull City v Wolverhampton Wanderers: Relieved Altidore can switch his focus

With both clubs embroiled in the fight for survival at the foot of the Premier League, the stakes are high ahead of the sell-out encounter with the Tigers knowing victory will be enough to claw themselves over Wolves and out of the bottom three.

The pressure on Hull will be added to by the following seven days seeing Phil Brown's men host Chelsea and Manchester City, meaning the game against Wolves is one that fits neatly in the 'must win' category.

One man, however, who is likely to be undaunted is Jozy Altidore after a fortnight that has seen Hull's on-loan striker anxiously waiting by the telephone for news of his relatives caught up in the Haiti earthquake.

Good news finally arrived earlier this week when the 20-year-old American-born striker with Haitian roots was told every member of his family had survived a disaster that is estimated to have killed 200,000 people.

Altidore, who missed the recent games at Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United on compassionate leave, is now delighted to be able to focus once again on football.

He said: "It is very nice to get back to football with a clear head. It has been a difficult few weeks but I feel like I am better now.

"I have got a load or relatives in Haiti so it was a tough time for my family and my parents. It was difficult but I think we are finally getting over it now and all you can do is pray and hope that the situation gets better there.

"Personally, all I can do is get my head down and get back to thinking about football.

"I am refocused. My family is all right, thank God, and now I have got to make sure I make the most of the next five months here."

Delighted that his relatives and friends are safe, Altidore remains devastated at the damage caused to the country where his parents, Joseph and Giselle, were born.

The US international has also been a regular visitor to Haiti in the past couple of years as part of his charity work so finds the footage that has been beamed around the world on various news channels particularly distressing.

Despite that, Altidore insists he is in the right mind to play his part today as the Tigers look to boost their hopes of survival by ending an eight-game run without a win. He said: "First up, we have to focus on a collective improvement and then, hopefully, individuals will raise their game. We have to be unselfish and play together to stay up."

Altidore joined the Tigers, who are likely to hand a debut from the bench to new loanee Amr Zaki today, from Villareal last summer on loan but has failed to rediscover the goal-scoring form that persuaded the Spanish club to pay New York Red Bulls 6.5m for the striker in 2008.

He has netted just once this term – in August's 3-1 win over Southend United in the Carling Cup – and is yet to complete 90 minutes in any of his 15 league appearances.

The striker said: "I don't think we have seen the best of me, I would be dumb to say otherwise. It is not that I have struggled to settle, that has been all right.

"And I knew what to expect when I came to Hull. It is not an easy place to score 30 goals a season, that's for sure.

"I knew it was going to be difficult but we have brought in a quality player in Zaki and, hopefully, that will help link up play and see us create more opportunities."

Altidore has a big few months coming up with City's fight for survival in the Premier League being followed by the World Cup in South Africa.

The 20-year-old helped the US to the Confederations Cup final last summer when he scored in the shock 2-0 semi-final win over Spain.

He said: "You think about the World Cup, of course, it is always going to be in the back of your mind.

"But to play in the World Cup you have to make sure you're playing regular football. No manager is going to put the stake of the country on someone who he feels is out of form.

"It is important that I give everything I can to Hull and, hopefully, the rest takes care of itself."

Hull City v Wolves

Team news: Jimmy Bullard is still out with knee trouble but Amr Zaki is in the squad for the first time following his loan switch to Hull. The Egyptian is likely to be on the bench, while Kamil Zayatte is doubtful with an ankle injury that has prevented the defender from training all week. Geovanni (knee) and Kamel Ghilas (thigh) are also doubts, while Seyi Olofinjana is still at the African Cup of Nations.

Last six games: Hull City LLDLDL, Wolverhampton Wanderers LLWLDD.

Referee: M Dean (Wirral).

Last time: Hull City 2 Wolverhampton Wanderers 0; December 26, 2007; Championship.

SkyBet odds: Hull to win 6-5; Wolves to win 9-4; Draw 12-5.