De Wijs has found his feet to add to Hull City's resolve

MANAGER Nigel Adkins has hailed the renaissance of Hull City defender Jordy de Wijs and feels that a bit of tender loving care has helped him through a sticky start to his Tigers' career.
Hull City's Jordy Di WiisHull City's Jordy Di Wiis
Hull City's Jordy Di Wiis

The former PSV Eindhoven centre-back was in outstanding form in Saturday’s 3-0 victory over Sheffield Wednesday, with de Wijs and central defensive partner Reece Burke helping the club register a third successive clean sheet en route to a sixth straight league victory for the in-form Tigers.

Amid the scintillating attacking form that Hull are displaying in their eye-catching push for the Championship play-offs, Adkins believes that their defensive resolve is proving equally important.

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On the rise of de Wijs, who signed in the summer, Adkins said: “When you go to a new football club and country you have got to find your feet.

“At the start of the season when we played them both Jordy was making a couple of mistakes that were costing us games, but he just showed what a great character he is.

“We have a very supportive, nurtured environment at the football club to help people improve. Nobody makes a mistake on purpose.

“I said that they were going to have a great future at this football club. But we brought Tommy (Elphick) in to try and nurture them through and help them. They are both very young.

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“Jordy came over from Holland and had to get used to the level and all the different things. But we knew they would be a good partnership and they are proving to be that at this moment in time, which is great.”

Adkins believes that the addition of a seasoned defender in Cardiff’s Matthew Connolly, who was due to have a medical yesterday, will provide an experienced option for the club during the run-in – and prove another worthwhile addition.

Connolly can play in the centre or at right-back, and Adkins added: “It is an opportunity we have taken to get an extra experienced player – as we did not need any more youngsters – to bolster the squad.

“Competition for places drives performance. You do not want any complacency and you want people to be on it.”