Goalkeeper Dillon Phillips has agreed a new one-year contract extension at Hull City, boosting Sergej Jakirovic’s options in between the posts.
Phillips, who arrived on a free transfer last summer from Rotherham United, says he’s relishing the chance to work alongside Konstantinos Tzolakis and Jack Butland.
Tzolakis has impressed massively while away on international duty with Greece, while Butland continues to recover from an elbow injury he picked up before the Tigers’ final friendly of pre-season in Frankfurt.
Despite finding his opportunities limited, playing just six times, Phillips had no qualms about agreeing an extension to the initial two-year contract he penned when he joined the Tigers a little over 12 months ago.
“I’m absolutely delighted. I’ve loved my time here so far. It’s only been a year but with all the things the club has managed to achieve, it’s been brilliant to be a part of it day to day,” Phillips said.
“When I came here, promotion was not something I really expected. The group was tremendous to be a part of last season, the way we worked for each other every day. I like to be a big part of the dressing room with the boys, which is easy to do because the group is so good.”
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Since the summer, Ivor Pandur has moved to Rangers, with Butland swapping places with the Croatian stopper, and City spent the best part of £20m on Tzolakis, who has kept five clean sheets in his first nine domestic and international games this term.
“Kostas (Tzolakis) and Jack (Butland) have come in this year, both at different stages of their careers, but with great profiles,” the 31-year-old continued. “There are things I can learn from them, and hopefully things they can take from me.
“Training with them, especially someone like Jack in pre-season, with the career he’s had and playing for England, it’s exciting knowing I’ll be working with those two goalkeepers on a day-to-day basis.
“We have a good group of young goalkeepers and I like to play my part in trying to help them, while still trying to improve myself every day.
“I’ve loved working with Erbs (Erbil Bozkurt, goalkeeping coach). It’s been excellent and we get on really well, on and off the pitch. He gets the best out of me and the other goalkeepers too. I’m really looking forward to the next two years.”
Phillips joins the likes of Oli McBurnie, Matt Crooks, Regan Slater, John Egan and Mo Belloumi in being rewarded with fresh terms following the Tigers’ iconic Wembley play-off final victory.
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