Video: Tom Huddlestone hoping to have new Hull City contract waiting on return

TOM HUDDLESTONE has revealed that he will resolve his Hull City future when he returns from holiday '“ and remains hopeful that he can agree fresh terms.
Hull Citys Tom Huddlestone holds off the challenge from Wednesdays Barry Bannan. (Picture: Tony Johnson)Hull Citys Tom Huddlestone holds off the challenge from Wednesdays Barry Bannan. (Picture: Tony Johnson)
Hull Citys Tom Huddlestone holds off the challenge from Wednesdays Barry Bannan. (Picture: Tony Johnson)

The midfielder, who turned in an accomplished performance in Saturday’s victory over Sheffield Wednesday on the big stage, has jetted off for a sunshine break after his exertions with the Tigers following a fluctuating 2015-16 campaign.

Huddlestone, out of contract at the end of June, will return as a Premier League player and his hope is that Hull will belatedly table him a new deal to give him something to mull over – with his future having been on the backburner until the fate of the Tigers’ season was known.

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The schemer, who turns 30 at the end of December, said: “Hopefully when I come back, there will be something on the table.

Hull Citys Tom Huddlestone holds off the challenge from Wednesdays Barry Bannan. (Picture: Tony Johnson)Hull Citys Tom Huddlestone holds off the challenge from Wednesdays Barry Bannan. (Picture: Tony Johnson)
Hull Citys Tom Huddlestone holds off the challenge from Wednesdays Barry Bannan. (Picture: Tony Johnson)

“It has been disappointing at times that nothing has been offered, especially when you see some of the other lads signing extensions.

“But the main aim was getting promotion and taking it from there. I spoke to the manager just after Christmas and he said that if we don’t go up, it might be a struggle to keep hold of me, but that if we went up, there was likely to be a contract available.

“We are back on July 4. Hopefully, something will happen.

“There have been times, especially when I wasn’t in the team, when you start to think that you are out of contract in the summer and you are not playing and you are not sure what is going to happen.

Hull Citys Tom Huddlestone holds off the challenge from Wednesdays Barry Bannan. (Picture: Tony Johnson)Hull Citys Tom Huddlestone holds off the challenge from Wednesdays Barry Bannan. (Picture: Tony Johnson)
Hull Citys Tom Huddlestone holds off the challenge from Wednesdays Barry Bannan. (Picture: Tony Johnson)

“But I managed to get back in the team and we got promoted.

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“Hopefully, they keep hold of me. But you never know which direction they want to go in.”

Huddlestone won his midfield battle hands down with Owls opponent Barry Bannan and enjoyed a rewarding afternoon – just as he did against the other half of the Steel City in the thrilling 5-3 FA Cup semi-final win over League One outfit Sheffield United in April, 2014.

Even accounting for the fact that the Nottingham-born playmaker scored an exquisite goal in that triumph over the Blades, he admits that Saturday topped the lot in terms of his Wembley experiences.

He said: “The semi-finals was a great day and I scored in that one and the final was a great occasion also.

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“On another day, it would have been unbelievable to win the FA Cup.

“But this was probably the best.

“We stuck to our game plan. We were probably a bit nervous at half-time wondering if they were going to nick it 1-0 and their keeper was playing well.

“Thankfully, we got another chance in the second half and held on from there.”

Victory enabled Hull to follow Burnley back up to the big time at the first time of asking and Huddlestone believes that continuity has reaped its rewards through the club sticking by manager Steve Bruce – just as it has for the Clarets, who have kept faith with Sean Dyche.

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The former Tottenham Hotspur midfield play-makerer, who joined Hull for £5.25m in August 2013, added: “Fair play to Burnley, too. They have done it by the winning the league.

“That was our main aim at the start of the season. We have kept the nucleus of the squad together here.

“The club stuck by the manager and I think they have been justified.”