Liam Rosenior, the manager of Hull City, is making a full circle as he pursues Millwall glory and welcomes a newcomer.

The Tigers are looking for a first success on the south side of the Thames since 2013

Almost twelve months ago, Hull City head coach Liam Rosenior was preparing for his first game in charge of the Tigers after being appointed as Shota Arveladze’s replacement at the beginning of November.

That first assignment as City boss came at Millwall and it was a game he suggested would teach him an awful lot about the group he had inherited, one where a dressing room criticised by many simply had to stand up and be counted against a side in the thick of the play-off race.

Despite suffering a controversial red card to leading scorer Oscar Estupinan just before half-time in Bermondsey, City battled to earn a creditable point in their quest to escape the clutches of the relegation battle they found themselves in, something they would eventually go on to achieve.

That level of determination his players showed proved decisive and it’s something he’s continued to harness in the months since, and even in defeat at Ipswich Town on Tuesday, his players were still sticking to their principles and battling hard in the dying moments.

Eleven months later, Rosenior will return to The Den asking similar questions but with the knowledge that 40 games in charge of the Tigers under his belt has built one of which was that chastening loss at Portman Road on Tuesday evening.

Now, a new-look City will arrive at The Den hoping to avenge that loss in midweek and prove it was just one of those Championship games that can and will, happen, and a coach that will learn yet more about his squad – and himself, as the Tigers look to avoid slipping into the bottom half of the table after such a positive start.

“My first game was against Millwall and I said at the time – on my first day – I’ll learn a lot about this group and now we’re going to learn a lot about my group and me on Saturday,” the City boss explained. “It’s gone full circle. Going away to Millwall is a true test of character. You’ve got to be brave, you’ve got to block shots, you’ve got to win tackles, win headers but what I want is for us to do those things which are the basics of football, but to play our way as well.”

Millwall’s campaign has been up and down to say the least. Their last three home games have ended 3-0. Two of those were defeats to Leeds and Swansea with the other a victory over Rotherham. Last time out, and in true Championship fashion, the Lions went to Plymouth who had thrashed Norwich 6-2 in their last Home Park outing, and won 2-0.

“Gary is a very good, experienced Championship manager at this level who knows how this league works,” Rosenior continued. “He knows you can lose a game 3-0 at home and win the next one 3-0, that is the Championship. I know it is going to be a very difficult game. I was there watching them against Leeds so I’ve got a semi-good idea of what they’re about.

“They’ve got threats all over the pitch and I’m talking about at centre-half. Cooper (Shaun) from set-pieces is a real threat, (Zain) Flemming’s a very good player, obviously, Longy’s (Ryan Longman) down there doing his thing as well. They’ve got good players and they’ll play with an energy and intensity that I really like and we have to match that if we want to get anything from the game.”