Stars who have got to shine
SEVEN THAT MUST CONVINCE WALTER
Hull City’s playing squad will return to pre-season training on Monday along with last season’s regulars, there will be a number facing extremely uncertain futures. Naturally, when there’s a change in manager, players cast aside under the previous regime will fancy their chances of making an impression under the new man, and that will be the case at Cottingham on Monday morning when Tim Walter takes charge of his first training session.
City’s squad already looks worryingly thin and while all the departures so far, probably with the exception of Ozan Tufan, were expected, there remains a significant amount of work that needs to be done over the course of the next few weeks, but perhaps, one or two of the players below could still have an impact at the MKM Stadium ....
Brandon Fleming
Since penning his new contract in July 2022, it’s been a nightmare couple of years for City’s academy graduate.
Fleming was deemed surplus to requirements by Liam Rosenior and farmed out on loan to Oxford and then Shrewsbury, neither of which went particularly well for the popular 24-year-old.
After returning from Shrewsbury early in the New Year, Fleming trained with the squad but knew he was not going to play for Rosenior, which must have been a really difficult time.
Now, with Matty Jacob City’s only recognised left-back, Fleming may fancy his chances of impressing Walter.
If not, he needs to move and move quickly. Fleming’s far too talented to be sat in the stands on matchday, and he deserves to be playing week in and week out, wherever that may be.
Dogukan Sinik
The Turkish international has flopped since his big-money move two years ago, and supporters are understandably sceptical about his ability – and desire – to be a success in England based on what we’ve seen so far.
Owner Acun Ilicali has put his neck on the line on more than one occasion to back Sinik and his potential to have a positive impact on City and the Championship, but in truth, fans have seen absolutely nothing to back up that faith and he remains an enigma.
If the winger is to be a success and prove the significant doubters wrong, he needs to attack pre-season and show the quality that Ilicali believes he has, and stay fit.
Ryan Longman
Longman is one of the players likely to move on this summer having spent a good season on loan at Millwall. Neil Harris wants to get him back to the Den, and Longman himself is thought to be keen to remain in South London.
That said, he’ll return to pre-season training at City like everybody else and you just never know, Walter might see something he wants to work with and a player he may feel he can improve, and get the best out of, however unlikely that may appear at this particular juncture.
Ryan Woods
Another of the summer 2022 signings on a hefty salary, Woods was completely cut out of Rosenior’s dressing room and was never to return.
A fairly uneventful spell in League One with Bristol Rovers came to an end in the winter before he moved to Exeter City and proved a success for the Grecians.
That’s a move to keep an eye on over the next few weeks because it’s extremely unlikely he’ll be considered for any first team involvement by Walter, but like Longman before him, he’s expected to return to Cottingham with the rest of the players, at least for the start of pre-season while his future is resolved.
Xavier Simons
One of Rosenior’s favourites in his early days despite not featuring in the Championship. so much so, the former City boss made a big play to sign him on a permanent deal from Chelsea.
Farmed out on loan to Fleetwood Town in League One last season, the 21-year-old played 15 times.
Given City are short of numbers in midfield, Simons may feel he’s got a chance over the next few weeks to catch the eye of Walter and give him something to think about.
Harry Vaughan
Having burst on the scene in April last year, the 2023-24 campaign was a bump back to reality for Harry Vaughan, another who was sent out on loan. His spell in the second half of the season at Bristol Rovers didn’t go particularly well and would have been something of a learning curve.
He’s a player with talent, but whether he’s cut out for the cut and thrust of top-end Championship football remains to be seen, and he’ll be another hoping to prove to Walter that he can mix it.
Jason Lokilo
Signed last summer after a decent end to the previous season in the Turkish Super Lig, Lokilo never quite looked good enough to be a top-end Championship player, but as we’ve said before, he’s another who will return to Cottingham and start pre-season while his long-term future is decided, but it would be a worry if the 25-year-old was involved beyond the end of the transfer window.