The Tigers are back in action at Middlesbrough on Monday night
Former Reading captain Jobi McAnuff believes Hull City deserve immense credit for the way in which they’ve gone about their season so far.
At the halfway stage of the campaign, City sit fourth in the Championship after their 2-2 draw at Sheffield Wednesday on Boxing Day and now head to Middlesbrough looking to thrust themselves into the automatic promotion chase.
City have defied many of the early-season predictions, which saw them backed for another season of struggle under a manager in Sergej Jakirovic, who had never managed in England before.
“I mean, we’ve just spoken about recruitment at one end of the scale, getting young, talented, loanees, and I think a massive decision for them (City) was the likes of McBurnie, Semi Ajayi, who again has been around the circuit, but brings bags of experience and know-how,” McAnuff told the Football Daily.
“My probably only big worry was the manager in terms of not having experience of football in this country, and certainly not at Championship level, but I think they’ve actually caveated that with some of those signings that they’ve made. Liam Millar coming back in.
“They’ve had injuries as well, to be where they are, McBurnie missed a chunk of games. Millar’s missed games and getting them both back, and looking at full strength.
“Crooks, another one. He’s massively experienced at this level, and a real good outfit and a really enjoyable team to watch, actually. I know we had that conversation early on in the season about who’s the sort of team that you really enjoy watching, and Hull’s (City) games, whether scoring or conceding, which they have done at times this year, are always a really, really good watch.
“Massive credit to two clubs (City and PNE) who certainly I didn’t have on the list of being in the top six come the end of this season, making a real good go of it, and I think it’s just epitomised the league.
“You’ve got Millwall up there, of course, this season as well. There’s just an openness to it and some of those clubs that we just didn’t expect to be there, which is just great. I think it keeps it interesting. I do feel that it is still wide open for those play-off places, so I certainly wouldn’t be sort of ruling any of those out.”
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