Returning stars will be like new signings for City
WORLD CUP BREAK IS IDEAL TIME FOR TIGERS’ INJURY-HIT SQUAD
Attention will soon turn to the January transfer window with Hull City head coach Liam Rosenior set to have discussions over the course of the next month about his plans. After a busy summer of recruitment which saw City bring in 16 new players, the Tigers are in a fortunate position as the winter approaches.
While they’ve missed a host of players in the opening 21 games, Rosenior can look forward to the return of some of them once the World Cup break is over.
Some of them they’ve seen and others have not kicked a competitive ball in anger, and while that presents its own problem in terms of sharpness and match fitness, Rosenior will be pleased to have options added to his ranks, especially going forward.
Allahyar Sayyadmanesh
The Iranian international has perhaps been the biggest miss of all the absent players.
While his goal return has perhaps not been where he’d have liked, Allahyar’s pace, work ethic and dynamism have been crucially absent from City’s side since he picked up his hamstring injury at Burnley.
Allahyar started the season well on the left wing, his pace a real threat going both ways and given the way in which Rosenior likes to play, he will be a real asset when he’s fully fit to return, and that’s expected before Christmas.
Benjamin Tetteh
A good foil for Oscar Estupinan, the big Ghanaian striker looked like he was settling into life before he was hurt against Sheffield United.
Tetteh is a powerful, mobile striker and one that showed glimpses of his quality and is another that will, on paper at least, fit well into Rosenior’s philosophy.
Getting him back fit is crucial, not least to take some of the pressure off Estupinan, and add to the options in the top half of the pitch.
Harvey Vale
Rated as one of the brightest young talents in English football, City have not seen anything like the best of Vale since he arrived on summer deadline day from Chelsea.
He came with a big reputation, but his only outing so far came in that 3-0 hammering at Swansea City in what proved to be the death knell for Shota Arveladze’s tenure at the club.
After going away with England, Vale picked up a thigh injury and returned to Cobham for treatment. Though he’s back in the fold at City now, he’s been unable to force his way into the squad either under Andy Dawson or Rosenior.
Vale remains valued at the club and there are high hopes that once the World Cup break is over he can have a positive impact.
Xavier Simons
In terms of playing games, this move has been a disaster for Simons. He’s yet to start a game and has made one cameo appearance off the bench. Unfortunately for the Chelsea youngster, Jean Michael Seri and Ryan Woods have developed a useful partnership in the double pivot role in front of the back four.
Though he’s extremely highly rated like Vale, it’s hard to see where he fits in going forward, unless there’s an injury to Woods or Seri.
Salah-eddine Oulad M’hand
Possibly the most exciting of the players yet to feature for City, the Arsenal youngster has missed all 21 games with an injury picked up during the Gunners’ pre-season trip to the US.
City are reluctant to take any risks with him and will not put a timescale on his availability, but there is hope he’ll be in contention in the run-up to Christmas. If he can get up to speed quickly then his creative influence could be invaluable, but having missed half the season already, Rosenior will be reluctant to put any kind of pressure on the youngster’s shoulders.
Adama Traore
The Mali international should have been City’s first summer signing but after picking up a hamstring problem just days into his first week of training, he was one of the last.
It remains unclear when City fans will get to see Traore in action, and having essentially missed a whole year of football, it’s hard to see him having much of an impact.
Josh Emmanuel
The big elephant in the room remains the Emmanuel situation which has seen him out of action since last November with a health issue.
Despite appearing at open training sessions, being at the ground on a matchday, and even playing for the Under-21s recently, the silence from City has been deafening with questions about his situation off-limits.
It’s understood this silence has been driven by his family and advisors with the club largely powerless to do anything about it. It’s wonderful to see him back on a football pitch after what has been a challenging 12 months for the now 25-year-old, but it remains to be seen what the immediate future holds.