The former midfielder brings his Baggies side to the MKM Stadium for a pre-Christmas showdown
Former MKM Stadium star Ryan Mason admits there will be a sentimental feeling in the air when he returns to Hull City as manager of West Brom on Saturday.
Mason was a club-record signing when he joined City in 2016, but suffered a fractured skull in a challenge with Chelsea’s Gary Cahill in January 2017, which ended his playing career prematurely at the age of 26.
Now, nearly 10 years on, Mason is forging a career in management after a successful coaching spell with Tottenham‘s backroom staff and will be hoping to end City’s two-game winning run, and in the process, ease the pressure on his own position at The Hawthorns.
“Not since I’ve retired,” Mason said when asked if he’d been back to East Yorkshire in the years since his untimely exit. “I did rehab there for pretty much seven or eight months, trying to get back.
“Once I retired, I went back for a game on Sky Sports, I think against Sheffield United, to speak in the studio. Hull is a long way from where I’m from, and it’s not on the way to anything! I haven’t been back, but it’s a chapter of my life that brought many different emotions.
“I’m sure this weekend, if I can separate the working side, it’s going to be a sentimental feeling – but my job is to try to change the situation we’re in away from home.”
The former Tigers star admits crossing paths with former colleagues hasn’t passed his mind, but says the connection with the Tigers will remain, given what he went through as a player at City, and the fact his son was born in East Yorkshire.
“I’ve not really thought about it,” he continued. “It’s been quite a long time since I’ve retired, coming up to 10 years, obviously there is a different owner now, different manager and players.
“The previous owners were amazing for me. I’m sure there will be a few members of staff that are still there. It’s a club that is part of my life, a big part of my life. I had an incident when I was representing that club so there’s always going to be a connection for me and Hull.
“The club were amazing, honestly just amazing. ‘Doc’ – the doctor there, Mark Waller – he had a crucial part in saving my life. I still speak to him to this day. He’s out in Qatar at the moment, he’s enjoying himself!
“There were a lot of people there who were amazing. The fans were great and the ownership were incredible. They gave me the opportunity and time to try to come back and play.
“Obviously, it’s a painful period to look back on because I lost my career. There are some fond memories there. It didn’t end how I wanted it to, but of course, I look back on mixed emotions.
“My son was born in Hull, on the 20th of December, so his birthday is Saturday, which is a strange thing! On his passport, he’s a Yorkshire lad!
“Unfortunately, he’s asked to do other things. He comes to all of the home games, but I don’t think my old man can convince him to come and sit in the car for four hours each way on his birthday!”
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