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Hull City: Boss Brown praises Cairney
Hull City manager Phil Brown believes the rapid rise of teenage midfielder Tom Cairney is further proof that the club is healthier than ever despite their current relegation battle.
Cairney, 19, made his debut in last weekend's 2-2 draw with relegation rivals Wolves and impressed sufficiently to keep his place when title-chasing Chelsea came to town on Tuesday.
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The Nottingham-born youngster produced another excellent performance in the 1-1 draw with Carlo Ancelotti's side and will have high hopes of starting again tomorrow when Manchester City come to the KC Stadium, despite growing competition for places.
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Hull went into the game against Manchester City third from bottom of the the Barclays Premier League, but Brown believes the emergence of Cairney and steady progress of fellow youngsters Liam Cooper and Mark Cullen is evidence of a positive future for the cash-strapped club.
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The Tigers boss said: "Tom Cairney, in the light of Jimmy Bullard's long-term injury and one or two falling by the wayside in terms of form and then Seyi Olofinjana going to the African Nations Cup, has grabbed his chance.
"When Seyi got back the first question he asked was 'I believe Tom has played well?' Because there is a genuine belief and togetherness.
"While he's been away at the African Nations Cup, he has been keeping very close tabs on how the team is doing and he's delighted for Tom.
"It doesn't look like Tom needs his feet keeping on the ground, he looks like he's taking it all in his stride. I liked the way he finished the game against Chelsea.
"Normally you would tire in a game three days after your debut and that was the dilemma about whether to keep him in, certainly against the diamond formation Chelsea were playing that was full of world-class players. But Tom was putting his foot on the ball in the 85th minute and still getting us playing football.
"It's nice to have that old Dutchman (George Boateng) alongside him who can talk him through games.
"It's a long-term plan. With Tom, Liam Cooper and Mark Cullen, the future of the club is looking a lot more healthy than it ever has done when you've got two or three knocking at the door. They are all local boys as well."
Such an emergence has led to questions about Cairney's long-term future, with Brown saying: "We'll take our time, his contract is up next year.
"He's got a long-term future in the game and, hopefully, it will be at Hull City."
Meanwhile, Bullard has applauded Hull's decision to reject a 5m deadline-day bid for Stephen Hunt and believes it will help galvanise the squad.
The debt-troubled Tigers entered the transfer window hoping to significantly trim both their first-team squad and their wage bill but resisted the temptation to cash in on Hunt when relegation rivals Wolves made a third, improved, bid last week.
Daniel Cousin and Peter Halmosi did depart the KC Stadium, on loan to Larissa and Szombathelyi Haladas respectively, but Bullard believes the continued presence of Hunt represents a big boost to the club's survival hopes.
"It's good, it's brilliant," said Bullard, whose return from a knee ligament injury is expected to take another three to four weeks.
"It's what you need to hear as a player. The longer we can keep Stephen the better it is for Hull City, without a shadow of a doubt.
"It's great news for all of us.
"Hunty's an all-rounder. As well as being a good lad ,he's fit, he's energetic, he's not afraid, he can get stuck in and he's been scoring goals for us.
"He has scored six, I think, which is great for a midfielder and we're just out of January.
"For me, he's the whole package."
Bullard is looking forward to playing a more active role in the survival bid.
"I'm getting there slowly. I've been out eight weeks, coming up nine, and we're getting closer," he said.
"I've had no hiccups, it's just taken longer for the ligament to heal for me personally.
"But I won't be totally happy until I get a ball at my feet, get the boots on, and start kicking it about.
"It can be dark times in the gym...but there's a little bit of light at the end of the tunnel."
Bullard's sentiments on Hunt were echoed by City's assistant manager Brian Horton when he announced the decision to rebuff the Wolves cash.
"The club received a verbal offer of 5million for Stephen Hunt. This has been completely rejected and we're not expecting any further bids," said Horton.
"Unless it's an offer you feel is one you completely have to take, no manager wants to sell his best players so that is the end of the story with Stephen Hunt.
"You heard the press he got from one of his former team-mates, the goalkeeper (Marcus) Hahnemann, at the weekend about what a good player he was and that if they got him they would stay up and if we kept him we would stay up. Let's hope that's the case."
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Weather for Leeds
Saturday 11 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: -1 C to 1 C
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Light rain
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