‘This is my team now and we’re ready’: Rosenior

‘I’M EXCITED FOR THE SEASON TO START’: Liam Rosenior

By Simon Bristow

Hull City manager Liam Rosenior says he is proud of the squad he has assembled as he embarks on his first full season in charge, and said: “This is my team now.”

The Tigers kick-off the new Championship campaign with a tough opener at Norwich City on Saturday, but should be in a positive mood having remained unbeaten pre-season.

They are continuing to build, with forward Aaron Connolly becoming the latest recruit on Wednesday after joining on a one-year deal from Brighton for an undisclosed fee. Though lacking fitness, he has “a point to prove”, Rosenior said, and is the club’s fourth signing of the summer, following hot on the heels of the arrivals of Liam Delap, Jason Lokilo and Rúben Vinagre.

But as he looks to select his first match-day squad of the season for the trip to Carrow Road – where an attendance of about 30,000 is expected – Rosenior knows expectations are high this season, and that having worked with the players and shaped the squad in his own image, the team is now unmistakably his.

It was a responsibility he was happy to accept when he spoke to reporters at a pre-match press conference today.

‘HAS A POINT TO PROVE’: Forward Aaron Connolly. Picture by Hull City

“I’m really excited because I’m starting from zero,” he said. “I’m starting with my group – I call them my group now. We haven’t made that many signings but I know the players now, this is my team. We’ve made four or five contract renewals, I’m proud of the group that we’ve put together, and hopefully my belief in them will be proven correct.”

He added: “I feel really good. I’m excited, I can’t wait. The players are in a great place, I’m really, really happy with them and there was a little bit of edge today in training, which I like, ready for the season.

“It’s a great start. Norwich away is a fantastic benchmark for us, massive club, huge ambitions for themselves, big ambitions for us this season as well, so it’s going to be a really good game.”

Rosenior said Connolly, 23, who impressed at City on a loan spell last term, would travel to Norfolk and could feature against the Canaries.

Asked about his fitness, Rosenior said: “He’s nowhere near where he should be but he will be in contention to be in the squad for sure because he brings something different. He’s shown enough in training that he’s ready to make an impact from the bench if we need him, so he’ll be there travelling down with us.”

The manager also brushed off concerns about the shortness of Connolly’s contract, saying: “I think it suits everyone. I think Aaron’s got a real point to prove this season to a lot of people who have, I think, tarred him with a certain brush in terms of his character.

‘I’D LOVE TO SCORE THE OPENER AGAINST WEDNESDAY’: Sheffield-born Tigers midfielder Regan Slater

“And also I know he wanted to be here so much, that if things do go well as I expect them to, that he doesn’t want to be anywhere else, so I’m really comfortable with the one-year contract.”

Although City were undefeated in their summer friendlies, they know they will have to turn some of those draws into victories if they are to impose themselves on the division.

One of those who has been chipping in where it counts is midfielder Regan Slater, who has notched up three pre-season and is hoping the run continues.

Although he is desperate to feature against Norwich, as a Sheffield-born player Slater could not resist casting his eye ahead to the first home league game of the season – when Sheffield Wednesday are the visitors to the MKM Stadium on August 12.

Slater said he only focuses one game at a time, but asked about the prospect of facing Wednesday, said: “It would be a great time to score the first home goal. A few people have been on at me, but obviously I’m from Sheffield, I support the other side of Sheffield, a Sheff United fan, so the Wednesday game is close to home but I will treat it like any other game.”

Striker Óscar Estupiñán and skipper Lewie Coyle are both back in training and also in contention for Saturday, but the game will come too soon for forward Allahyar Sayyadamanesh, Rosenior said.