The highly-rated youngster has caught the eye this summer
Nathan Tinsdale believes he’s earned his chance to make his mark on the Championship with Hull City as the new campaign approaches.
The 20-year-old midfielder has enjoyed another strong pre-season with City’s first team. He showed his potential on Tuesday night with a well-taken volley to haul his side level against Sunderland, five minutes after falling behind as the hosts came from behind to win 2-1 against the Premier League newboys.
Tinsdale’s display again caught the eye as Sergej Jakirovic’s men made it five wins from six across their summer campaign, and it’s something he hopes can continue into the league when it all gets underway at Coventry City next week.
“It’s massive,” he told Hull Live. “We’ve been winning all pre-season, so it’s good to keep the winning ways. Hopefully, we can keep it going and take it into the season.
“We’ve been working on it in training; the press where I go high onto the keeper to stop the switch. I’ve seen it come back across the goal, and I thought I’m just going to hit it first time, try to lob the keeper, and thankfully it worked.
“It was a good one, just a nice little chip over the keeper, so I’m happy with it. I feel like it came naturally to me, and I dinked him; nice little goal.”
The former Bradford City youngster was a regular feature last summer under Tim Walter, but after a flurry of arrivals in the final days before the transfer window shut, he found himself back in the Under-21s.
Twelve months on, the versatile midfielder believes he’s ready for Championship football and hopes that Jakirovic will give him the opportunity he craves.
“Last year, I felt like I definitely earned a spot in the team, but with a load of signings and stuff like that, I kind of got phased out,” he explained. “I’m hoping this year, with the (transfer) situation, I’ll be involved a lot more, and I think I’ll definitely deserve it.
“I’d say I’ve developed massively, really. I’ve got a lot physically stronger, and I feel like I’m ready for men’s football now; I’m ready for this level. Yeah (ready for the rigours of Championship football), definitely. I feel like I just need to be given my chance now and just show what I’ve got.”
Tinsdale says he’s not really spoken to Jakirovic yet, about what may or may not lie ahead this season, but hopes he’s done enough to be involved. He believes the Bosnian’s relaxed approach has been a positive for the squad.
“I don’t think we’ve really had much chance to chat about it (the future), but I’m just hoping we know where we’re at. I feel like I’ve definitely earned the right to be here, and hopefully he can put me on the bench week in, week out and bring me on, and hopefully maybe get some starts. He’s got a really relaxed approach, and as you can see, it’s working, so hopefully we keep this up.”
City’s final outing of the summer sees them host a Getafe side who finished 13th in La Liga last season and kick off their new campaign away at Celta Vigo on August 17. It’s a game Tinsdale hopes his side will make it six wins on the spin and end their summer with another success.
He added: “I don’t know what they’re like really, but I can imagine they’re a good side, so hopefully just keep playing how we’ve been playing and get another win.”
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