Egyptian’s licence to roam suits Hull’s bold approach

Ahmed Elmohamady, the Egyptian international on a season-long loan deal at Hull City, has made the kind of impact that new signings dream of since swapping the Premier League for the second tier shortly before the summer transfer window closed last month.

Popular already after starring roles in the wins over Bolton Wanderers and Millwall, the 25-year-old Sunderland wideman cemented his hero status on Tuesday night with a man-of- the-match display as the Tigers claimed a first win at Elland Road in almost a quarter of a century.

Elmohamady netted City’s equaliser after Luciano Becchio had put Leeds United in front with a controversial penalty. Then, the loanee provided the crosses that led to Abdoulaye Faye and Robert Koren netting the goals that earned Hull a deserved 3-2 victory to remain hot on the heels of early leaders Blackburn Rovers.

Next up is Leicester City on Sunday and Tigers supporters will be hoping for more of the same from the Egyptian, who has revealed how big a part manager Steve Bruce played in persuading him to drop down to the Championship after two years in the Premier League.

“The manager brought me to Sunderland from Egypt and played me in that first season. I played 36 out of 38 games and really enjoyed it. Now, I am back with him and I believe we can get better and better to take us up to the Premier League,” Elmohamady told the Yorkshire Post.

“As a manager, he is a great man. His personality is great and I like him as a man. I came to Hull to play and because the manager knows me.

“I want to play and the manager gives me that chance. Hopefully, I can get better and better all the time.”

Elmohamady has been in English football since the summer of 2010, when Bruce signed him from Egyptian club, ENPPI, on a season-long loan deal for a £500,000 fee with the option of a £2m permanent deal.

By the following January, Bruce had seen enough to exercise that option and the wideman continued to flourish until a change of manager at the Stadium of Light midway through last season.

Unlike his predecessor, Martin O’Neill clearly didn’t have much faith in Elmohamady with the Egyptian failing to start a game under the Irishman.

Bruce, sensing an opportunity to bring in a player who he knew would help bring to life the 
3-5-2 formation that has proved so successful over the past two or so weeks, moved quickly.

Within two days of signing, Elmohamady was justifying Bruce’s faith as City made light work of Bolton at the KC Stadium.

He was in similarly devastating fashion against Millwall last weekend as the Tigers raced into a 4-0 half-time lead.

Bruce, to his credit, stuck with the attack-minded line-up at Elland Road as both Elmohamady and Joe Dudgeon were given licence to roam forward down their respective flanks – freedom that the Egyptian capitalised on.

He said: “To come to a place like Leeds and beat a strong team made us all very happy.

“Hopefully, we can get a fourth win (in a row) at Leicester. That is what is important now.

“The three wins have been very good ones. We have shown that we are good players. We also have a great manager and things have started to happen.

“But we now must forget about those three games. They are gone.”

Asked if he considers himself to be a full-back or winger – both roles he has filled with his national side – Elmohamady insists he just fulfils whichever role his manager asks.

He said: “I can’t say I am a winger or a full-back. I am a player, and it depends on the tactics. I just do what is good for the team.

“The manager tells me before every game to go forward whenever I can. He wants me to score goals. I did that at Leeds and the manager was pleased.”

The recent trio of wins means City have made their best start to a season in 19 years to fuel belief among supporters that Bruce has built a squad capable of mounting a serious push for promotion.

Elmohamady said: “This is a very good team, a very good manager and a very good owner. We also have very good fans. It is a club I like.

“I had a fantastic two years in Sunderland. I hope they do well this season. But I am concentrating on Hull now and I believe we can achieve good things.

“These are clever players here and when you have those you can attack a lot. You can score goals.

“It was a big decision, but I wanted to play. I hope to play every game and get back in the Premier League.”