Hull City v Oxford United - Communication key for No 1 Matt Ingram

The Tigers goalkeeper, who spends the majority of games booming guidance and instruction to those in front of him, is however not just a fan of the sound of his own voice. Having barely featured last term, the 27-year-old former QPR stopper has made the No 1 shirt his own in 2020/21, starting 27 of City’s 35 League One fixtures to date and keeping 13 clean-sheets.

And, according to him, a big factor in his consistently high level of performance this season has been his ability to communicate with his team-mates and head off dangerous situations while they are still developing.

“It’s almost like a game of chess from the back of the pitch where I stand,” Ingram said.

“You can get bodies in the right positions, tell players to mark people, communicate when runners are coming, you can defuse situations before they become situations.

“For me, talking is a big part of my game because I like to think that by telling someone they’ve got a runner behind them, or whatever, I can essentially stop the ball coming near me,” he added.

“I think it is something that a goalkeeper has got to do.

“I think we’ve got a really good understanding at the back. All the back-four talk, though I’m probably the loudest. I think that the understanding is massive, understanding the game-plan and each other’s roles.”

Having spent a couple of seasons playing week-in, week-out in League Two following his breakthrough at Wycombe Wanderers back in 2013, Ingram has spent a large chunk of the last five years sitting on substitutes’ benches, waiting for an opportunity to prove himself higher up the pyramid.

Unsurprisingly, he is relishing the regular game-time Grant McCann has afforded him since the Tigers were relegated from the Championship.

“It’s been nice to get a run of games, really enjoyable. I’ve gained a bit of confidence just from playing so many games,”he added.

“I think I’ve been fairly consistent. There’s not been much said about me in the press, I don’t think, hopefully because I’m not making many mistakes or anything like that.

“And, at the same time, the team are doing a really good job of keeping the opposition at bay. I’m not having to make lots of saves, so long may it continue.”

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