Hull City's Xavier Simons impressed by summer signing's strong start

Simons has struck up a good on-field relationship with the on-loan Bayer Leverkusen midfielder, scoring in the last two matches.

Signed at the end of August, Puerta was given time to acclimatise to the country, league and club.

But since donning the black and amber for the first time against Sunderland he has started all three matches, all alongside fellow 21-year-old Simons.

It seemed to catch up on Puerta in the last of them, substituted at half-time against Derby County but generally his midfield partner has been impressed by the 5ft 6in player.

"He's a very strong player, hard to get off the ball and he works very hard," said the Chelsea youth product. "He uses his physicality well for a small player. He's great at driving with the ball and creating."

Although Puerta did not play much of a part last season, just to have been a member of a squad which went the whole domestic German campaign unbeaten, winning a clean sweep of trophies, as well as reaching the Europa League final, is a stamp of quality.

But it left him short of match practice coming to the notoriously demanding Championship.

And if Puerta was no doubt frustrated at having to wait so long for his first chance, at least he was able to build a good understanding of his team-mates.

"Every day everyone gets a better understanding," said Simons. "Gustavo came in as a new player and we've got to learn his strengths and what he's good at.

"He's worked really hard and got the rewards for it.

"On our last trip to Turkey (during the October international break) we had time to bond and the mood in the camp is really good considering we made so many signings."

Simons has been in a good vein of form himself, as highlighted by his first two goals for the club he joined in the summer of 2022.

“To think I would score two in two, let alone one, has been a great feeling. I just want to build on it throughout the season,” he said.

“We want to take all three points against Portsmouth (on Saturday), and we will go into that game full of confidence.”