Bruce hopes Diame will assume Hull's swagger

MANAGER Syteve Bruce is backing Hull City's Mo Diame to rediscover his best form in time for the play-offs after admitting the Senegal international is finding things 'difficult at the minute'.
Hull City manager Steve Bruce says people must not forget the serious injury suffered by Mo Diame (Picture: Bruce Rollinson).Hull City manager Steve Bruce says people must not forget the serious injury suffered by Mo Diame (Picture: Bruce Rollinson).
Hull City manager Steve Bruce says people must not forget the serious injury suffered by Mo Diame (Picture: Bruce Rollinson).

The 28-year-old scored in Tuesday night’s 2-0 victory at home to Brentford as the Tigers took a big step towards securing fourth place and home advantage in the semi-final second leg.

Despite that, Diame still is not reaching the heights of even a few weeks ago when, despite Hull being on a poor run, he was hugely impressive in games such as the 1-0 loss at Middlesbrough and Nottingham Forest’s 1-1 draw at the KC Stadium.

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As a squad, Bruce has spotted a “swagger” returning during the current five-game run and he is hoping Diame can follow the lead of his team-mates with the play-offs just a fortnight or so away.

“We are finding a bit of momentum again,” said the Tigers’ chief to The Yorkshire Post. “I felt we should have beaten Leeds.

“We were comfortable against Brentford and we have also won away from home (Reading) so, all of a sudden, we are back to being where we should be.

“I see confidence in the players. Look at Harry (Maguire) against Brentford. He was oozing confidence, whereas Diame isn’t.

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“There you have the top, top player who, we must not forget, came back from a serious injury and you see it a lot – once through the adrenalin and you hit that wall.

“You haven’t had a pre-season, you haven’t had the preparation and it becomes a tough time. We all know Mo is a quality act, but he is finding it difficult at the minute. That is football.

“You never lose your ability. You might doubt yourself from time to time, but you never lose it. It is a hard thing to replace, as the entire team showed not so long ago.”

Hull head to Bolton Wanderers tomorrow knowing that three points will effectively clinch fourth place thanks to Derby County, three points behind, having a substantially inferior goal difference.

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Bruce added: “Five or six weeks ago, we simply couldn’t get a win like the one we had against Brentford. We were so comfortable that we almost won at a canter, against the form team in the division.

“There was a swagger back, the confidence is coming back and let’s hope we can continue it.”

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