Ince expecting Hull to face ‘new’ West Brom under Pulis

as someone who spent the second half of last season playing under Tony Pulis, Tom Ince is aware Hull City will be up against a rejuvenated West Bromwich Albion tomorrow.
Tom Ince.Tom Ince.
Tom Ince.

The former Stoke City manager took over at The Hawthorns over the festive season and oversaw a 7-0 FA Cup win over non-League Gateshead in his first game.

Premier League safety, however, is what Pulis has been taken to the West Midlands to achieve and the visit of the Tigers is a game the Welshman will be targeting for points.

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Ince was signed on loan by Pulis a year ago and made eight appearances for the Eagles so knows all about how his former manager took the Londoners to safety.

“It is a massive game, especially with Tony Pulis going in there,” said the 22-year-old, who made his first start for Hull in more than three months in last Sunday’s 2-0 defeat to Arsenal in the FA Cup third round.

“He is someone I have worked with before and they will be up for it, I am sure.

“They will be a whole new team with a new regime.

“Tony is the main man when it comes to getting teams out of trouble, but we will go there with confidence after beating Everton.

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“The momentum is with us again and if we can pick up three points again then we’ll be moving in the right direction.”

Ince’s appearance at the Emirates was his first start in a Tigers shirt since late September, when he scored in a 3-2 Capital One Cup defeat to West Brom.

After that, first team chances were at a premium which led to a loan switch to Nottingham Forest, where he made four starts and two appearances from the bench.

An injury crisis brought the former England Under-21 international back to the KC Stadium just before Christmas and since then he has made two cameo appearances from the bench plus last Sunday’s start at Arsenal.

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Asked about what he hopes the second half of the season will bring, Ince, who signed a two-year contract at the KC last summer, replied: “I have just got to keep working hard and putting thoughts in the gaffer’s mind.

“If I do get game time then it is up to me to create chances and score goals. If we go a goal down and the game needs someone to provide a spark, hopefully that could be me.

“Ideally, I don’t want to go on loan again. I want to be here and cement a spot for Hull City. There are places up for grabs in this team and it is up to me to try and take one.

“At the time, going out on loan was probably the best thing. But I came back thinking, ‘I am going to show you that I deserve to play’.

“Hopefully, it can be a successful second half of the season, both for the club and for me.”