Hull City man must now step up following devastating Mohamed Belloumi reveal | OneFootball

Abu Kamara must now step up for Hull City in the absence of Mohamed Belloumi and Liam Millar.

Hull City have been hit with two serious knee injuries to two of their best players recently, with both Liam Millar and Bachir Belloumi expected to be out for the remainder of the season.

In Tim Walter's system at Hull, the role of the wingers is vital to his possession-heavy philosophy, which was a hallmark of his time at Hamburger SV. Walter's wingers are tasked with staying wide during build-up play to stretch the opposition and create space centrally for midfielders and forwards to operate.

Their positioning is crucial in dragging defenders out of position, allowing Hull to play intricate passing sequences and break down defensive lines. However, it's not just about width; these wingers are also expected to cut inside and join attacks, becoming goal threats themselves.

They often drift into half-spaces, looking to combine with the central striker or attacking midfielder, facilitating Walter's fluid attacking structure. Ultimately, wingers under Walter need to be technically gifted, versatile, provide balance, creativity, and pressing impetus in a system that demands constant movement and positional flexibility.

It was therefore an area where they focused much of their attentions in the transfer market, with the likes of Belloumi, Millar, and Abu Kamara all brought in for significant fees. The latter may now need to step up following a summer switch from Norwich City.

Hull's wide options under Tim Walter

Hull had the near-impossible task of trying to replace Jaden Philogene, and were always likely to bring in a player of lower quality, but FC Basel winger Millar and SC Farense attacker Belloumi appear to be superb bits of business for Walter's new-look side.

They were cost-effective signings with plenty of potential to grow and develop, in an area of need for the Tigers. In early outings, there have already been glimpses of opening up space for Millar and Belloumi by overloading the centre of the pitch and isolating them with a full-back.

Between them, they have contributed to seven goals. Belloumi (four), and Millar (three) lead the way in the Hull squad, which highlights the area Walter's side thrives in when it comes to productivity and output. They were both often able to take a game by the scruff of the neck and imprint themselves on it with a moment of individual brilliance, and that match-winning talent should have shined in a more attack-minded Hull side this season.

It makes the recent injury news all the more difficult to take, with the pair both starting to hit their stride. Belloumi, in particular, was excellent against Oxford United and could have been a key player this season under Walter. The German remains a front-footed coach in possession terms, with lots of rotations between players and sharp and intricate build-up.

The good news is that any winger is likely to thrive in a system that attempts to release them into space with regularity, preferably in a three against two or a four against three overload on the last line. Walter's coaching relies heavily on dynamic dribblers out wide by cultivating those situations one against one as frequently as possible to create chances.

In Millar, Belloumi, Kamara, and Abdülkadir Ömür he has players who's direct channel running and speed as an outlet will be fantastic on the break or if they can release them to front up opposing defenders. Not only should this get plenty out of them, but many are two-footed enough to beat their full-back either way.

Abu Kamara must take his chance

Although not all of these wide players are exactly the same profile, many of them share similarities. Now, with two vital components of the squad injured, it hands the chance to Kamara and the like to step up. The 21-year-old was signed from Norwich in the summer and has bags of potential, but also some distinct resemblances to Belloumi in terms of his style of play.

Belloumi was quickly becoming Hull's best and most important player, and he, like Kamara, is a left-footed right-sided winger. Kamara should, in theory, be the analogue to Belloumi in his absence. He perfectly adheres to Walter's principles, and it's an incredibly exciting prospect for Hull when envisaging his potential metrics as a result in the long-term.

He could develop into being a key asset for the side this season in one-on-one situations against opposition defenders. Kamara is a player of the right skill-set and profile for Walter's needs; it's a perfect fit. His one and only goal contribution in the league thus far came in a 1-1 draw with Burnley, and Hull will hope that he steps up and improves on that in the coming games.

He has the chance to make the position his own and develop with regular minutes, even if Belloumi returns from injury at some stage next season. He has started just four league games and is in need of consistency to build rhythm. Most of those starts have also come on the left flank, with Kamara far more suited to cutting in off the right, as he did to such great effect with Portsmouth last season.

Wingers in Tim Walter's system are often the most crucial players, contributing significantly to both goals and assists. Their ability to influence the game both in wide areas and when cutting inside makes them indispensable to the team's attacking flow and overall success; Kamara has the opportunity to become vital to their success in that sense in 2024/25.