Hull City’s squad is now finalised after the transfer window closed
Hull City’s summer transfer window has come and gone. They left it late, but the Tigers did strengthen their midfield options on deadline day by adding Darko Gyabi and Amir Hadziahmetovic to their ranks.
Despite operating under tight financial constraints, City boss Sergej Jakirovic has significantly revamped his first team squad since taking over the reins. Twelve new players have come through the door and Jakirovic now has a clear picture of who he will be working with until January.
After the early weeks of the season, Jakirovic will already have an idea of his strongest team. There are a minimum of two players battling it for a starting place per position.
Ivor Pandur is the Tigers’ undisputed one. He was a model of consistency as City avoided relegation last term.
Jakirovic has got some tricky decisions to make in defence when everybody is fit. A back four consisting of Lewie Coyle, Semi Ajayi, Charlie Hughes and Ryan Giles could provide them with a solid base to build from. It looks a toss up between skipper Coyle and Cody Drameh for the right-back berth.
Summer signing John Lundstram has quickly established himself as a key component of Jakirovic’s side. Who will be regularly lining up alongside Lundstram is anybody’s guess. Hadziahmetovic, Gyabi, Regan Slater, Matt Crooks can all be deployed in the defensive midfield role. It may take Hadziahmetovic some time to get up to speed with English football so Jakirovic may favour Gyabi in the short term. His energy, athleticism and tenacity could make him the perfect foil for Lundstram in the middle of the park.
City have now got some good options in the wide positions after recruiting Joel Ndala and David Akintola. They are two exciting young players but do they get in ahead of Liam Millar and Mohamed Belloumi when they are fit and firing on all cylinders? Probably not.
And what about the No 10 position? Kasey Palmer or Joe Gelhardt (Crooks could also come into Jakirovic’s thoughts here for certain matches)? It is hard to imagine Gelhardt not playing week in, week out after City worked so hard to bring him back to the MKM Stadium.
Ex-Sheffield United front man Oli McBurnie is the Tigers main man in attack, with Kyle Joseph and Enis Destan providing back up.
City’s best XI (4-2-3-1): Pandur; Coyle, Ajayi, Hughes, Giles; Lundstram, Gyabi; Belloumi, Gelhardt, Millar; McBurnie.
Pick your City XI
So what do you think Jakirovic strongest XI is? Does he need one with a raft of matches coming up that will demand squad rotation?
Where do Gyabi and Hadziahmetovic fit in? What is Gelhardt’s best position? Can you play Millar and Belloumi in the same side?
They are all questions that will be answered over the coming weeks – but for now, it’s over to you to pick your best City starting XI from a fully fit squad.
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