It has been some fall for Hull City this season as the Tigers have gone from narrowly missing out on a place in the playoffs to being a real contender for relegation this campaign but the appointment of Ruben Selles as manager and a potentially productive transfer window could transform their campaign.
Hull City moved out of the bottom three with a 1-0 win at Millwall today but the team have struggled to score regularly in the current campaign. A deal is reportedly close for Blackpool forward Kyle Joseph – but is the League One player the answer to their problems?
Hull City Remain Blunt in Attack Despite Rebound in Form
The former Reading manager has won back-to-back away matches in the Championship to help pull his new side out of the bottom three but apart from a thrilling 3-3 draw with Leeds United aside, there are still problems in forward areas for the Tigers.
No player has managed to supply a regular run of goalscoring form. Brazilian forward Joao Pedro tops the club charts with five league goals, but he has scored just once in his last six outings in all competitions.
Their poor attacking showings are highlighted in their expected goals tally. After their win over Millwall, only Swansea, Luton Town and Coventry City had a worst differential in terms of goals scored in the second tier.
They have scored just 26 goals in the Championship, more than ten lower than their expected output after 27 outings.
Ruben Selles has responded by securing a loan deal for Leeds United’s Joe Gelhardt but it is the move for Kyle Joseph of Blackpool that will be expected to increase goal output. Pete O’Rourke has reported on X that a deal has been agreed between the clubs.
Scottish Forward Clear in Seasiders’ Scoring Charts
The 23-year-old’s eight goals and three assists are unmatched at Blackpool and his tally has come from an xG of figure of 6.88, highlighting a clinical edge in League One this season.
The forward, who can play in wide areas, is on course for the best-scoring campaign of his short career to date, having struck nine times for Oxford United in the 2022/23 season.
He is very much a player who needs a regular run of games in the starting line-up before getting on the scoring trail regularly and that may be a problem at Hull City, with Selles preferring to play a sole striker in attack.
Joseph is untested at Championship level and it is a major risk to play him as the focal point when the club are attempting to beat the drop. The Wigan Athletic Academy graduate will be a welcome addition to the club’s forward line but he will likely not be the answer to their problems in attack.
He may find some more minutes in wide areas but having not played since scoring a late leveller against Wycombe Wanderers on the 4th of January, the player may need time to settle into his new surroundings. Supporters should not expect him to fire them to safety initially but the forward should be a good addition if the deal is to go through.