McCann sees Sunderland in push for promotion
Hull City boss Grant McCann b e l i e ve s Su n d e rl a n d w i l l once again be in promotion contention come the end of the League One season – and feels that Phil Parkinson has ‘strengthened well’ over the summer.
Both the Black Cats and the Tigers are tipped to be challenging towards the upper echelons of the third tier in May, meaning today’s Carabao Cup clash will prove to be a useful litmus test for McCann and opposite number Phil Parkinson.
"You would have thought s o ,” s a i d M c C a n n , w h e n quizzed on whether Sunderland would be battling for a return to the Championship. "They're always up there. “The year I was there with Doncaster they got beat in the play-off final against Charlton and last season they were right up there.
“Sunderland will be in and around it for sure, so this will give us a good marker.
“It's a tough game,” he continued.
“They've got a strong squad there and have strengthened well as well.
“But if we want to be up in and around the top end of the league this year, as we do, and I'm sure Sunderland are thinking the same – it'll be a good marker for us to see where we are.”
Hull were relegated from the second tier last term after a disappointing end to the campaign, leaving McCann to address a number of key issues over the summer.
But he is confident that some positive changes will be evident when the side take to the field on Wearside.
“Ultimately we want to play on the front foot, be a team that wants to get after teams and create and score a lot of goals,” he said.