Shota gives high-flying Tigers ‘eight out of ten’ for season so far
Shota Arveladze says there are no new injury worries for the game at Burnley. Picture by Hull City
By Simon Bristow
Championship high-fliers Hull City can still improve, their manager has said, as he gave them an eight out of ten rating for the season so far.
Shota Arveladze’s Tigers head to Burnley on Tuesday in second place in the Sky Bet Championship, having briefly led the division after a thrilling 2-1 win over recently relegated Norwich City on Saturday.
That victory, thanks to a brace from new signing Óscar Estupiñán, has only increased the sense of excitement and optimism around the MKM Stadium, where a crowd of 17,028 saw the Canaries dispatched with ruthless efficiency.
City head to Turf Moor looking to maintain their unbeaten record, but face another stern test against another side that was playing Premier League football last season.
Arveladze, who took the managerial reins in January following the takeover of the club by Turkish businessman Acun Ilıcalı, was keeping his feet firmly on the ground when he spoke to reporters at an online press conference this morning.
He said: “Whatever we’ve done last week, important or not, we have to face the next one, and then the next one again.”
He said the players and staff had enjoyed some quiet time away from the club after the intensity of the Norwich game, with everyone due to reassemble for one session today before heading to Lancashire.
“First [thing] is just to go home and have a nice day off Sunday. You know, leave everyone alone with their families and their nice feelings and not talk too much.”
The Tigers do not have any new injury concerns after the weekend, although they will still be without players including Ryan Longman, Tyler Smith, Jean Michaël Seri, and Dogukan Sinik for the game at Turf Moor.
Arveladze said: “I did not see the doctor yet but I can tell you all the feedback from the game, we had not much soreness or problems, thanks to God, did not get any message at night that somebody was texting the doctor and me, so we are still waiting, a good morning, Monday, here, having one session before we go to the game.”
Asked by Chris Dawkes from ITV Yorkshire how he would rate City’s start to the season, Arveladze said: “Out of ten, eight, if you look to the points.”
City have seven points from their opening three fixtures, with Burnley in 11th place on four points. Blackburn are top on nine points with the only 100 per cent record left in the division.