Hull are the worst-prepared side in Premier League history, with one fit central defender, a caretaker manager and a makeshift team worth less than half of Paul Pogba
Crisis club Hull City remain managerless, are yet to sign a player this summer, have a threadbare squad depleted further by injury and will open the season against champions Leicester to the backdrop of supporter protest - could they be any less prepared for a Premier League campaign?
The Allam family were on the verge of selling the club to American investors this summer until talks stalled at the 11th hour and it was announced that all takeover negotiations were suspended until September, although Chinese investors have this week opened fresh discussions.
Manager Steve Bruce then quit after becoming frustrated with zero investment in his playing staff and fearing a swift return to the Championship.
Curtis Davies tweeted a picture of Hull's hugely depleted squad on their pre-season tour
There have since been failed attempts to replace him with Roberto Martinez, Chris Coleman and Gianfranco Zola and caretaker boss Mike Phelan will instead lead them into the new season.
So what shape are they in on the playing field? Here, Sportsmail looks at just how short the relegation favourites really are…
First choice Allan McGregor was ruled out for six months with a back injury in July, leaving deputy Eldin Jakupovic and Slovakian reserve Dusan Kuciak.
The latter is yet to appear since joining in February and it is Jakupovic who will man the posts against Leicester.
He, though, has made only 10 league starts for the Tigers in four years and has appeared more times for Leyton Orient during a loan spell in League One.
Despite being 31, Jakupovic is relatively inexperienced and has not been a first-choice keeper since a spell in Greece six years ago.
TOTAL COST: Jakupovic (free)
Eldin Jakupovic, set to start in goal, has played more in League One than the top flight
Defence
It tells you everything about how short they are that midfielder Jake Livermore looks set to start at centre-back.
Captain Michael Dawson injured his knee in a pre-season friendly at Mansfield and will be out until late October.
Alex Bruce is out until next year with an Achilles problem, while Harry Maguire has missed the bulk of pre-season with an ankle injury and is a reported target of Middlesbrough.
Quite why Hull would consider selling their only other half-fit centre-back is worrying supporters and there appears to be little progress on new faces coming in to help out.
Midfielder Jake Livermore looks set to start at centre-back in a makeshift defence
Curtis Davies is the only senior centre-back definitely available for this weekend and he clearly finds the situation farcical after tweeting a picture of nine players last week with the caption: Hull City squad photo, 2016/17.
The two full-back positions pick themselves on account of there being no-one else to play there and Ahmed Elmohamady and Andy Robertson will start against Leicester.
Former Manchester United star Phelan is probably the closest thing Hull have to cover in defence.
TOTAL COST: Elmohamady (£2m), Davies (£2.25m), Livermore (£8m), Robertson (£2.8m)
Curtis Davies is the only senior centre-back definitely available for this weekend's game
Midfield
David Meyler and Sam Clucas were far from guaranteed starters in the Championship, yet that pair are almost certain to line up on Saturday.
A midfield three of Livermore, Tom Huddlestone and Mo Diame were outstanding in the play-off final victory over Sheffield Wednesday in May.
However, with Livermore needed in defence and Diame having been poached by Championship club Newcastle, only Huddlestone remains.
Moses Odubajo is out until next year after suffering a dislocated kneecap, while Shaun Maloney is also struggling with a groin injury.
An injury to one of three who are set to start on the opening day and Hull will be forced to rely on academy kids.
TOTAL COST: Meyler (£1.5m), Huddlestone (£5m), Clucas (£1.3m)
Sam Clucas was far from guaranteed starters in the Championship, but is set to play now
Attack
Again, the front three picks itself with Robert Snodgrass, Abel Hernandez and Adama Diomande the triumvirate charged with supplying goals and assists.
Snodgrass only returned from nearly two years out with a career-threatening knee injury towards the end of last season, while Norwegian Diomande managed only three starts last term.
That two could yet take time to get up to speed in the top flight and Hull’s success or otherwise will largely depend on the threat of Hernandez, who scored 20 times in the second tier.
He, though, is said to want away and were the Uruguayan to quit the KCOM Stadium it would leave Hull without a recognised goalscorer on their books.
TOTAL COST: Snodgrass (£6m), Hernandez (£10m), Diomande (£1.7m)
Abel Hernandez and Adama Diomande will lead the line for the Premier League new boys
Verdict
With a starting XI assembled at a cost of just £40m (that is less than half the worth of Paul Pogba) and absolutely nothing in terms of squad depth, it is impossible to predict anything other than an immediate return to the Championship.
Pre-season could not have gone any worse for the Tigers and they are in danger of of becoming the worst team in Premier League history.
Mike Phelan is in temporary charge, but his side are woefully under-prepared for the season
The Allam family were on the verge of selling the club to American investors this summer until talks stalled at the 11th hour and it was announced that all takeover negotiations were suspended until September, although Chinese investors have this week opened fresh discussions.
Manager Steve Bruce then quit after becoming frustrated with zero investment in his playing staff and fearing a swift return to the Championship.
Curtis Davies tweeted a picture of Hull's hugely depleted squad on their pre-season tour
There have since been failed attempts to replace him with Roberto Martinez, Chris Coleman and Gianfranco Zola and caretaker boss Mike Phelan will instead lead them into the new season.
So what shape are they in on the playing field? Here, Sportsmail looks at just how short the relegation favourites really are…
First choice Allan McGregor was ruled out for six months with a back injury in July, leaving deputy Eldin Jakupovic and Slovakian reserve Dusan Kuciak.
The latter is yet to appear since joining in February and it is Jakupovic who will man the posts against Leicester.
He, though, has made only 10 league starts for the Tigers in four years and has appeared more times for Leyton Orient during a loan spell in League One.
Despite being 31, Jakupovic is relatively inexperienced and has not been a first-choice keeper since a spell in Greece six years ago.
TOTAL COST: Jakupovic (free)
Eldin Jakupovic, set to start in goal, has played more in League One than the top flight
Defence
It tells you everything about how short they are that midfielder Jake Livermore looks set to start at centre-back.
Captain Michael Dawson injured his knee in a pre-season friendly at Mansfield and will be out until late October.
Alex Bruce is out until next year with an Achilles problem, while Harry Maguire has missed the bulk of pre-season with an ankle injury and is a reported target of Middlesbrough.
Quite why Hull would consider selling their only other half-fit centre-back is worrying supporters and there appears to be little progress on new faces coming in to help out.
Midfielder Jake Livermore looks set to start at centre-back in a makeshift defence
Curtis Davies is the only senior centre-back definitely available for this weekend and he clearly finds the situation farcical after tweeting a picture of nine players last week with the caption: Hull City squad photo, 2016/17.
The two full-back positions pick themselves on account of there being no-one else to play there and Ahmed Elmohamady and Andy Robertson will start against Leicester.
Former Manchester United star Phelan is probably the closest thing Hull have to cover in defence.
TOTAL COST: Elmohamady (£2m), Davies (£2.25m), Livermore (£8m), Robertson (£2.8m)
Curtis Davies is the only senior centre-back definitely available for this weekend's game
Midfield
David Meyler and Sam Clucas were far from guaranteed starters in the Championship, yet that pair are almost certain to line up on Saturday.
A midfield three of Livermore, Tom Huddlestone and Mo Diame were outstanding in the play-off final victory over Sheffield Wednesday in May.
However, with Livermore needed in defence and Diame having been poached by Championship club Newcastle, only Huddlestone remains.
Moses Odubajo is out until next year after suffering a dislocated kneecap, while Shaun Maloney is also struggling with a groin injury.
An injury to one of three who are set to start on the opening day and Hull will be forced to rely on academy kids.
TOTAL COST: Meyler (£1.5m), Huddlestone (£5m), Clucas (£1.3m)
Sam Clucas was far from guaranteed starters in the Championship, but is set to play now
Attack
Again, the front three picks itself with Robert Snodgrass, Abel Hernandez and Adama Diomande the triumvirate charged with supplying goals and assists.
Snodgrass only returned from nearly two years out with a career-threatening knee injury towards the end of last season, while Norwegian Diomande managed only three starts last term.
That two could yet take time to get up to speed in the top flight and Hull’s success or otherwise will largely depend on the threat of Hernandez, who scored 20 times in the second tier.
He, though, is said to want away and were the Uruguayan to quit the KCOM Stadium it would leave Hull without a recognised goalscorer on their books.
TOTAL COST: Snodgrass (£6m), Hernandez (£10m), Diomande (£1.7m)
Abel Hernandez and Adama Diomande will lead the line for the Premier League new boys
Verdict
With a starting XI assembled at a cost of just £40m (that is less than half the worth of Paul Pogba) and absolutely nothing in terms of squad depth, it is impossible to predict anything other than an immediate return to the Championship.
Pre-season could not have gone any worse for the Tigers and they are in danger of of becoming the worst team in Premier League history.
Mike Phelan is in temporary charge, but his side are woefully under-prepared for the season
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