Charlton v Hull City: Meyler holds position amid fresh recruits

RECENT history shows that earning an instant return to the Premier League is never easy, as Steve Bruce is the first to admit.
Hull City's Ahmed Elmohamady (left) celebrates scoring his side's first goal of the game with teammate David MeylerHull City's Ahmed Elmohamady (left) celebrates scoring his side's first goal of the game with teammate David Meyler
Hull City's Ahmed Elmohamady (left) celebrates scoring his side's first goal of the game with teammate David Meyler

However, after taking seven points from the first three games, optimism is building in the East Riding that Hull City are capable of making a sustained challenge.

And the Tigers chief believes a summer that brought a much-needed infusion of fresh faces is playing a big part in his side’s encouraging start.

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“It is not going to be easy to go back up, it never is,” said Bruce ahead of today’s trip to Charlton Athletic.

“But I realised after three years of me being there, it was time for me to go or time to turn around the squad and start again. That is what we are hoping to do.

“Despite all the doom and gloom, we are unbeaten from the start of pre-season. Slowly but surely, we are starting to lift the gloom. We are looking as good as we get.”

City continue to chase Shaun Maloney – sources in America indicating the Scotland international’s club, Chicago Fire, have agreed a fee with the Championship club.

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More pressing today, however, is the need to keep the unbeaten run going against a Charlton side who have enjoyed their own decent start.

Midfielder David Meyler said: “We know that Charlton like to get the ball down and pass it around. They are a good team

“But we are going there looking to win the game. We know it won’t be easy but if we can go and stamp our authority on the game and dominate in midfield then we know that we can control things and give ourselves the platform to go on and get a result.”

Meyler impressed on his first league start of the season in midweek against Fulham. Preferred to Isaac Hayden, the Irishman proved a constant threat.

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His vision and touch proved a big problem for Kit Symons’s men, one particular passage of play seeing the midfielder sidestep two opponents before releasing a team-mate with a quite sublime pass.

Bruce is expected to stick with Meyler, even though Hayden came off the bench and played a big part in City’s late winner.

Meyler added: “We have got seven points from a possible nine and we’re into the next round of the cup so it’s been a good start.

“We need to maintain our good start at home and make sure we keep picking up points away. We feel that we are more than capable of doing that.”

Mohamed Diame has been training with the first team squad this week but will not be risked.