Hull City star makes transfer admission ahead of crunch Sheffield United clash
The Tigers entertain the Blades in their third Yorkshire derby of the fledgling campaign so far
Alfie Jones admits it’s up to the players at Hull City to keep spirits high in the dressing room after a sluggish start to the new Championship season.
City have drawn three and lost one of their four games so far while going out of the Carabao Cup to Sheffield Wednesday last month, and were beaten at Leeds United before the international break.
Despite a promise of attacking football, new boss Tim Walter has seen his team score just twice in four league games with one of those coming from the penalty spot in stoppage time to salvage a point on the opening day against Bristol City, a goal scored by Oscar Estupinan who is no longer at the club.
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Walter’s men have the chance to secure a first win under their German head coach on Friday night when they face unbeaten Sheffield United at the MKM Stadium in front of the television cameras but know they’ll need to improve if they’re to overcome one of the promotion favourites.
It’s also the first game that will likely see all the Tigers’ deadline day signings plus Steven Alzate who arrived on a free transfer earlier this week, something Jones feels is important for the harmony of the group, to have it settled.
“Yeah, it’s good (team spirit),” Jones told Hull Live. “Obviously, there’s been a lot of change and we keep saying that. Now we’ve finally got our squad. It’s good to actually be settled, and we can start to build on that, build relationships and the new lads coming in can learn the gaffer’s style of play, but, listen, it’s the Championship, it’s going to be hard.
“You have to keep that spirit level high within the lads. We’ve got a good group of lads, we’re a close bunch and the new lads that have signed are good lads and obviously bring quality to the team.
“We need to keep that spirit high and that’s up to us as players to do that, with the manager as well and he’ll always do that because he always backs us. It’s up to us as a group to keep the spirits high and keep striving forward.”
