Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Marshall eager to come up against idol Valdes
HULL goalkeeper David Marshall hopes to return to the starting line-up at Middlesbrough tonight to face one of his heroes in Victor Valdes.
Marshall, 31, made way for Eldin Jakupovic in the EFL Cup against Newcastle at the KCOM Stadium on Tuesday and watched the Swiss keeper save twice in a penalty shoot-out to help the Tigers reach the semi-finals of the competition for the first time.
But Marshall is bidding to be back between the posts at the Riverside to face Middlesbrough’s Valdes, who was the Scotland international’s goalkeeping idol during his pomp at Barcelona.
“He’s outstanding,” said Marshall. “I’ve played against him a few times going back over 10 years now.
“Back at that time he was an idol of mine.
“It’s good to test yourself against top keepers, playing in this competition. That’s what you want to do.”
There have been loud calls from Tigers fans for Jakupovic to be given a run in the Premier League.
Marshall has conceded 21 goals in eight Premier League appearances this season since signing from Cardiff for an undisclosed fee, believed to be around £5 million, in September.
Middlesbrough lie one point above Hull in the table but have lost just one of their last five league games and the significance of a clash against one of the Tigers’ closest rivals is not lost.
“It’s one of those that’s a huge game for us. We have to go and put on a performance,” he said.
“I think it was a disappointing away game at Sunderland when we lost against another team who you would expect to be down there.”