Hull City already have two 'new signings' for next season - here's why | OneFootball

The Tigers' wing duo have both been sidelined for the majority of the campaign

Luck hasn't been shining down on Hull City when it comes to the injury front this season, with Ruben Selles and his predecessor, Tim Walter, suffering major blows to a plethora of exciting transfer additions.

Of course, there are an array of factors which have led to City's plight down the Championship table in the last 12 months, with many believing such a drastic fall began with the controversial sacking of Liam Rosenior, although that is a debate in its own right and one which continues to rumble on in East Yorkshire.

And whilst inconsistency has been the tale of the Tigers' season, with Walter leaving them rooted to the bottom of the table, whilst Selles' form would have the club in a mid-table position based off his first 27 games and a continuation of 1.26 points-per game - achieving strong results and a solid run of away form yet also failing to see off a handful of relegation rivals and dreadful form in HU3 - it's hard to ignore how much injuries have plagued this campaign, especially in the attacking and creative department.

Selles, whose long-term future at the club remains uncertain at present, testified to such events after the final home game of the season against Derby County, having lost £3m January signing Eliot Matazo and Aston Villa loanee, Louie Barry, to long-term layoffs, with the duo featuring just 10 times between them.

However, going even further back, there are two of Walter's summer recruits who will feel like 'new signings' at the beginning of next term, regardless of who is in charge.

Liam Millar and Mohamed Belloumi's early-season form after signing for Hull City

Liam Millar and Mohamed Belloumi were seen as two high-quality additions on the left and right flanks respectively, especially after Hull had lost the services of many creative outlets such as Jaden Philogene, Fabio Carvalho and Ozan Tufan.

The Canadian is no stranger to the second-tier, having previously featured on loan at Preston North End where he accumulated five goals and as many assists under Ryan Lowe in the 2023/24 campaign, despite being utilised as a left-wing-back for the majority of the season.

His direct nature that was on show for the Lilywhites, particularly when netting a sumptuous strike against Leeds United on Boxing Day 2023, was on show in abundance for City during their mixed start to the season, in which he made six starts and 11 appearances altogether.

The perfect example of the Liverpool academy graduate striking fear into opposition full-backs came in the 3-1 away victory against Stoke City on September 20th, where he accumulated two key passes, won five of his eight duels and laid on an assist for Regan Slater to smash home the second goal in a second-half rout at the Bet365 Stadium.

Unfortunately, after playing to a similar standard in the majority of his outings, the 25-year-old's season would be over by late October after sustaining an ACL injury, although it was reported by Hull Live that he and the Algerian will return from their respective hiatus' at the back end of pre-season.

Belloumi's story is a similar tale of strong output coupled with injury woes, having joined from Farense on Deadline Day last August on a four-year deal.

The wing wizard was a key reason behind all of Walter's three successive wins in the Autumn, with a 59-minute cameo in the 4-1 demolition of Cardiff City on September 28th the pick of the bunch, netting with two exquisite finishes, completing three successful dribbles, providing two key passes and winning six of his 10 individual battles.

He was able to still perform to such a high level even when results began to stagnate for the German, as his trickery and fleet-footed nature made him a constant out-ball in wide areas, with the last of his four goal contributions providing Joao Pedro with what turned out to be the first of his six goals in black and amber against Portsmouth on November 2nd, before also suffering ligament damage of his own against Oxford United just three days later.

Despite being sidelined for seven months, the duo's combined total of seven goals and assists equates to just over 6% of City's overall goalscoring output this season, with a total of 44, the worst in the second-tier and joint fifth-lowest across the entire EFL.

This has also been proven by the fact that former loanee, Chris Bedia, ended the season as the club's joint-third highest scorer with three, which is the same as the number of own goals scored by the opposition across the 46-game season.

Of course, Selles will have been made aware of the qualities which Millar and Belloumi possess, whilst having to use the likes of Joe Gelhardt and Nordin Amrabat across the front three, as well as £4.5m summer recruit, Abu Kamara, who, to his credit, has improved in confidence as the campaign progressed.

There is an argument that City's centre-forward options must be bolstered next season despite seeing Pedro end the season as top-scorer, with January signing, Kyle Joseph, yet to find the net in his first 16 appearances.

Whoever is overseeing matters in the dugout in pre-season, whether that be Selles or a new boss, will be delighted if Millar and Belloumi are back on the grass with the rest of the squad, with the hope that they will feel like 'new signings' and continue where they left off.