Experience at Hull key to progress this year '“ Diomande

ADAMA DIOMANDE may be a relative newcomer compared to the other 11 heroes who helped Hull City stun the champions on the opening weekend.
Adama Diomande.Adama Diomande.
Adama Diomande.

But the Norwegian striker believes a bond formed over “three or four years” can help the Tigers build on a quite remarkable triumph over Leicester City that followed a truly dismal summer at the KCOM Stadium.

“Everything is a motivation,” said Diomande, who joined Hull shortly before the close of last summer’s transfer window. “I don’t think there has been one positive thing about us in the newspapers before the season but we have seen another way.

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“We believe in each other and we have a good atmosphere in the club and around the team. We only see positive things and we do our jobs on the field.

“The strength of this squad is how close we are. We have been together a long time – not me, but the other guys have been here for three or four years. It is a strong group and a strong mentality. We have good leaders as well.”

City are still yet to make a signing, though talks are understood to be on-going with a host of targets including former Crystal Palace defender Adrian Mariappa. Tottenham Hotspur full-back DeAndre Yedlin has also been linked with a move to the East Riding, as talks with the Chinese consortium interested in buying the Tigers continue.

With a little over a fortnight until the window closes, time is of the essence for a club that remains down to 13 fit players ahead of Saturday’s trip to Swansea City.

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Mike Phelan, handed the reins on a caretaker basis following Steve Bruce’s shock departure on July 22, is hoping reinforcements can be brought in before the trip to south Wales and Diomande believes the 53-year-old deserves huge credit for keeping things together at such a difficult time.

“He has been doing a great job,” added the 26-year-old, whose first season at Hull was dogged by injury. “Not just with me, he has been doing a good job for everyone in the team.

“He has kept the group together and he is a great leader. He also has the experience from Manchester United.

“We know each other and we are going to stick together, no matter what happens. We can be happy that we have got a win against the champions.”

As for whether Diomande or Abel Hernandez netted the opener against the Foxes, he added: “I am just happy it went in. We are not arguing over it, not at all.”