The Tigers host promotion-favourites under the MKM Stadium lights
Regan Slater is relishing the chance to go face-to-face with Jacob Greaves and Jaden Philogene as the pair prepare to return to Hull City for the first time since leaving in the summer of 2024.
Greaves and Philogene will be part of the Ipswich Town squad that arrives at the MKM Stadium looking to halt City’s momentum in front of their supporters, which has seen them win five and draw one of their seven outings so far.
Slater, who, along with the high-profile duo, came so close to earning a play-off place under Liam Rosenior in the season before last, knows exactly what to expect from the division’s most expensively assembled squad, with both teams looking to return to winning ways after the weekend.
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“It’s a massive game. They’ve found some form late and are showing the quality that they definitely do have,” the Sheffield-born midfielder told Hull Live. “You’ve just mentioned two players (Greaves and Philogene) there that I’ve played alongside; two very, very good players, and they’ve got a squad full of it. It’ll be a real tough game.”
City’s form at the MKM Stadium is in stark contrast to the struggles of last term, and Slater says the collective smile on the faces of fans, players and staff alike is making a big difference.
“I feel like that’s probably helping,” he said. “Once you get the first couple of wins at home, then people start seeing that and saying, ‘Oh, it looks like a tough place to go,’ and then you win a few more, and it’s building on it.
“And people start saying it as players, ‘Oh, it’s a tough place to go there.’ That definitely helps us, but credit to ourselves again. We got those first couple of wins at home, and now it’s become a very hard place to come.”
Sergej Jakirovic’s side have already seen off Southampton, Sheffield United and Leicester City on home soil thus far, and while the Tractor Boys have improved in recent weeks, the home supporters will arrive expectant.
“Definitely, I feel like the fans are just actually behind us. Fair enough, it was really tough last year, and then everyone was struggling with it, but you get the sense when you walk out this season that they want you to win and they’ll give their all to help you do that. Yeah, it’s lovely (under the lights). When it’s going great, it’s great.”
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