Football League World
·8 June 2021
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·8 June 2021
Hull City will be looking to solidify their status as a Sky Bet Championship club after Grant McCann saw his side claim promotion at the first attempt as they went up as League One champions.
Much of the club’s success was down to their attacking trident of Mallik Wilks, Josh Magennis and Keane Lewis-Potter, with all three players hitting double figures on the team’s route to the title.
Holding onto those three this summer will be crucial, with there sure to be interest in both Wilks and Lewis-Potter in particular.
Bringing in new signings is also sure to be high up on the agenda for McCann, as he will want to add depth to his current squad after seeing some players leave already.
Here, we take an early look at how Hull City’s starting XI could look in 2021/22 as we take rumours and recent events into account from the last few months and weeks.
The experienced shot stopper will once again continue between the sticks as the club’s number one goalkeeper after a fine season in League One and will have been boosted by the fact that George Long has now departed for Millwall this summer.
Ingram knows all three levels of the Football League like the back of his hand and he will be expected to make another fine impact for his side as they return to the second tier.
If he can replicate his form that was shown last season, the Tigers will have a great chance of staying up next term.
The young right back had a great first season at the KCOM Stadium after signing from Bolton Wanderers on a free transfer and he will be relishing the opportunity to enhance his game and test himself at a higher level in the Sky Bet Championship.
His attacking and defensive displays give the Tigers great balance on the right hand side and he linked up with Wilks well on many occasions as City stormed to the title under McCann.
Hull will be looking for Emmanuel to retain that same level of energy and enthusiasm next term and there is every chance that the full back will be a key performer once more.
The promising young centre back has just signed a contract extension at the KCOM Stadium and will be expected to push on for a regular starting spot under McCann in the coming months as he prepares to be tested at Championship level.
The departure of Reece Burke to Luton Town will certainly work in his favour, as the former West Ham United man would have most probably kept Jones out of the starting eleven.
Now it is down to the 23-year-old to prove that his manager was right to keep faith in him and next term gives him the perfect opportunity to do just that.
A fine young defender who has progressed well over the past 12 months, Greaves has done the Hull City academy proud and will be expected to start most matches for the Tigers next term as they return to the second tier.
The 20-year-old’s consistency at the back last term was there for all to see and he hardly put a foot wrong for the club as he racked up an impressive 40 appearances on the way to claiming the league title.
The Championship will be a step up for the graduate but it is sure to be a test that he will relish.
The 26-year-old defender has been a key presence as part of the Hull City backline and will once again be expected to step up for the club again next term as they make their return to the Championship.
He has been a great addition from Leicester City by McCann and will be even more determined to prove that he can hack it in the second tier after being part of the side who suffered relegation two seasons ago at the KCOM Stadium.
His attacking abilities give the Tigers great natural width and he will once again be a big threat down the left as well as helping out defensively.
Docherty will be looking to continue on from where he left off moving into next season after a fine debut campaign at the KCOM Stadium after being brought in from Glasgow Rangers by McCann.
He contributed well with both goals and assists and will be expected to provide the link between the defence and midfield moving forwards as he looks to hold onto his starting spot at the KCOM Stadium.
His relationship with Honeyman has been key for the Tigers and the two players will once again be expected to control the engine room as much as they can in order to get wins under their belts.
Arguably heading into the 2021/22 campaign off the back of probably the best campaign in his career to date, Honeyman will be relishing the opportunity to re-familiarise himself with the Championship after one year away.
The former Sunderland man has gone on to become a key player and one of the first names on the team sheet under McCann and certainly looked a class above the rest when playing in League One last season.
He will be expected to lead by example once more and will be a big influence on some of the younger members of the squad.
The signing of Moncur is a great bit if business on paper, with the midfielder having taken in plenty of games at Championship level in a career that has seen him move about a lot for a player of his age.
He has a great engine on him and is able to contribute well in all of the thirds of the pitch due to his high work rate and range of passing.
The former West Ham United youngster will now be hopeful of staying put with the Tigers long term and will be hoping to nail down a starting spot moving forwards.
The powerful winger enjoyed a solid season as he helped his side to the title and will once again be expected to provide a big goal scoring threat for the team moving forwards.
Capable of playing wide or centrally in the club’s current system, Wilks is likely to take up his usual position on the right hand side of the attack as this allows him to cut inside and shoot for goal.
If he can hit double figures once more, there will surely be interest from clubs higher up the pyramid as he continues to improve his all round game.
The Tigers are said to be very interested in making a move for the Accrington Stanley man after he hit double figures in Sky Bet League One last term and he could well be the player who adds an extra edge for the club in attack if he moves to the KCOM Stadium this summer.
Charles is a player who can get in behind and link the play with the midfield well in equal measure and he is someone who certainly has the ambition to play higher and further his career as a result.
He may cost a significant fee but the likelihood is that any deal would be worth it for McCann and co.
The young academy graduate was a standout performer for the Tigers during the previous campaign and as a result he has seen attentions from elsewhere grow as he continues to progress as one of the most talented young players in the entire Football League.
He seems settled at the KCOM Stadium and will no doubt be keen to test himself in the Championship after storming through what was his breakthrough campaign in Sky Bet League One.
If he can repeat his goal scoring exploits in the second tier, it wouldn’t be s surprise if bigger clubs come calling for his services.