It’s probably fair to say that Regan Slater has emerged as one of Hull City’s most valuable players over the past few seasons, even if he hasn’t always been the first name on the teamsheet.
Signed for just £50,000 in January 2022 after Acun Ilicali’s takeover, following an encouraging loan spell at the MKM Stadium from hometown club Sheffield United, Slater is now operating in the Premier League and looking the part.
It’s a far cry from just 12 months ago, when Sergej Jakirovic openly admitted that following a summer of transfer activity, Slater was well down his pecking order, behind the likes of Amir Hadziahmetovic, Darko Gyabi and John Lundstram.
Owing to circumstances, Slater very quickly got his chance in Jakirovic’s side early on in the campaign and never looked back, with the Croatian head coach going on to later admit the 27-year-old was his MVP (most valuable player). Slater was rewarded with the Players’ Player of the Season and Supporters’ Player of the Season crowns in recognition for his consistency in a campaign that eventually saw him help the Tigers win promotion.
The dynamic midfielder was then pinned down to a new contract earlier this season, another sign of just how highly thought of he is at the MKM Stadium, as it is when he captains the team when Lewie Coyle isn’t on the pitch.
Throughout his lengthy stay at City, Slater has seen various players come and go, many of whom may have had bigger profiles and arrived for much larger transfer fees than the minuscule (by transfer standards) fee he arrived for, but he’s met every challenge head-on and come through.
That’s a testament to Slater’s work ethic and ability to improve. That challenge will have never been greater than it will be this season, with Champions League regular Hidemasa Morita coming in, along with Lucas Gourna-Douath and big-money arrivals Tim Iroegbunam, Jens Hjerto-Dahl and Christos Mouzakitis, though injuries have once again curtailed Jakirovic’s hopes of getting everybody fit and fighting for their places.
Slater has played in all but 12 minutes of City’s first five Premier League outings, with him brought off in the closing stages of the defeat at Newcastle United last time out, which again shows Jakirovic’s trust in him.
One obvious factor in City’s impressive start to the new season has been their work ethic, their willingness to cover ground, just as it was last term, and that’s highlighted by the fact that Slater is in the top 10 players for distance covered.
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Slater sits seventh, along with Granit Xhaka, having covered an impressive 56.9km, equivalent to a little over 35 miles, in the opening five games.
When top-flight action returns next weekend, Slater may yet face his biggest challenge of the season so far when he comes up against Harrison Armstrong. The Everton star, who was on the verge of leaving Merseyside late in the transfer window, has covered the most ground of anyone in the Premier League (60.4km – 37.5 miles).
The battle between Slater and Armstrong may well go a long way to determining which of the two teams comes out on top next Sunday afternoon at the MKM Stadium, and Slater will know he’ll have to be at his very best, whoever he’s partnered alongside, to try and play his part in inflicting a first defeat on Everton.
Whatever happens next weekend, Slater has already shown he has the ability to make the step up to the Premier League, though he’ll be the first to admit he will be desperate to add more goals to his game, given some of the impressive positions he gets himself into in and around the penalty box.
Few could argue, though, that in the modern game with transfer fees as they are, Slater has proved to be one of this football club’s best ever pieces of business for a player who continues to get better and better.
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