John Egan has been one of Hull City’s stand-out performers this season with his experience vital(Image: Sean Troup/Shutterstock)
Hull City go into the final weekend of the season knowing victory is a must to give themselves the best possible chance of overpowering Wrexham to clinch the final play-off spot.
City host Norwich City at the MKM Stadium in front of a sold-out crowd, one that will be nervously expectant that Sergej Jakirovic’s men can deliver a dramatic final day, and keep their season alive.
One of the Tigers’ key strengths this season has been their experience. Since January 2025, the Tigers have recruited a host of players with vast Championship expertise, and it’s paid dividends in key moments.
Over the past six games, City have laboured and have been unable to find that elusive victory that would have made Saturday an awful lot easier and less nerve-racking.
As it is, though, Jakirovic will be looking to his senior players, of which there are many, to drag themselves over the line and ensure their impressive season up to the end of March isn’t in vain.
The Tigers have one of the most experienced squads in the division, and it’s that experience that Jakirovic will need to call upon to get a performance and result.
John Egan is the most experienced when it comes to the second tier with over 260 second-tier appearances, closely followed by the likes of Semi Ajayi, Paddy McNair, Matt Crooks, Lewie Coyle, Regan Slater, Ryan Giles, John Lundstram, Kieran Dowell and Oli McBurnie.
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Those senior players have all amassed well in excess of 100 appearances in the Championship, with significantly more than 2,000 league outings in England’s second tier between them.
That experience must come to the fore. Those senior professionals know what it takes to get a result in this league, and they have to do everything they can to get it done, whatever it takes.
This squad have come too far, they’ve given too much to allow the campaign to end with a whimper. To send a packed home crowd home for the summer, wondering what might have been.
Getting to the play-offs does not complete the job, far from it, but it’s the least the squad have earned for a whole season of hard work, graft, sweat and tears. Their adoring public are desperate to see one more win, and if they can do that, then at least they know they’ve kept their part of the bargain.
The club’s decision to seek out some of the Championship’s most experienced players over the past three transfer windows must now be rewarded with that know-how and expertise coming through to deliver in their hour of need.
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