The Tigers still hope to add a couple of key faces during the winter window
Former Sheffield Wednesday defender Guy Branston believes Hull City‘s transfer restrictions will catch up with them in the second half of the season, though he feels the Tigers are a ‘proper Championship team’ under Sergej Jakirovic.
The Tigers are working under tight restrictions placed on them by the EFL, which means they can only sign free transfers and loan players where there’s no fee involved.
Despite those conditions, the Tigers still enjoyed a stellar window in the summer with the likes of Joe Gelhardt, Semi Ajayi and Oli McBurnie coming in under Sergej Jakirovic in his first season in English football.
City have defied the critics and pundits all season, having been backed for relegation before a ball was kicked and remain firm outsiders for promotion.
Despite that, however, City have been in and around the play-off picture all season and only dropped out of the top six after their game against Watford was called off on Sunday.
They remain just five points off the top two with a game in hand, as the Championship takes a two-week break for the FA Cup, with City returning to action against Southampton on January 17.
Branston, though, who played for a host of clubs including the Owls before turning to player consultancy, believes City will eventually run out of steam, owing to the advantage their rivals have over them.
“Can they keep it up and challenge for the Premier League? Personally, I think they’ll burn out, for the simple reason that rival clubs will strengthen while the embargo means Hull can’t,” he told the Football League Paper. “Whatever happens, though, the Tigers finally look like a proper Championship team.”
Do you think City can sustain their promotion push? Have your say in the comments below….
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