Grimsby Town must lock down star fulfilling potential Sunderland once saw | OneFootball

Left-back Denver Hume has been in good form so far this season, and Grimsby should be looking to extend his deal which runs out next summer.

Full-back Denver Hume is one of many Grimsby Town players to have impressed this season, and with his current contract set to expire in the summer, the Mariners should be looking to tie him down to a longer deal at the earliest opportunity.

26-year-old Hume arrived at Blundell Park from Portsmouth last January, signing a short-term deal until the end of the 2023/24 campaign as he joined central defender Doug Tharme and midfielder Curtis Thompson through the door as boss David Artell looked to keep the club in the EFL.

All three played their part in the Mariners successfully achieving that, with the Ashington-born man signing on for a further year in the summer.

The left-back, who came through the Sunderland youth system, has spent most of his career at League One level, and has even featured in the Championship as one of his 84 appearances in total for the Black Cats.

Leaving the Stadium of Light in January 2022, Hume headed for the South Coast, signing for third-tier rivals Portsmouth for around £200k.

An injury-hit two-year spell at Fratton Park came to an end at the start of the year, as Hume dropped to League Two for the first time when he signed for the Mariners.

Initially taking a little time to settle, the attacking full-back has shone brightly this season, and is producing the kind of performances his early days at Sunderland promised, as he and his teammates have made a very solid start to the 2024/25 season.

Others will have taken note, however, and it would be in the club's best interest to tie Hume down to a longer deal to prevent one of their key attacking assets leaving for free in the summer.

Hume has grown in stature this season

His passing and crossing abilities vital to Artell's side

While Hume occasionally gets caught out defensively, the attacking edge he brings to the side is currently far outweighing that, with the former Pompey man one of Artell's chief creators from full-back.

Linking up well with the likes of wingers Charles Vernam, Luca Barrington, and more recently, Jason Dadi Svanthórsson, Hume's engine allows him to burst up and down the flank, while his quality on the ball allows him to service the forward players once in the right areas.

A good set-piece taker, the forward-thinking full-back possesses a vision that also allows him to cut inside and play defence-splitting passes for midfield runners and strikers playing on the shoulder of the last man.

All these attributes have become increasingly frequent in the last few months, with Hume (alongside teammate Kieran Green) ranking highly among the fourth-tier's top assist providers at this point.

It may have taken a little time, but Grimsby fans are beginning to see the best of Hume, as he shows the kind of form that caught the eye at Sunderland in his younger days.

Hume is one of a few players to have improved significantly under Artell's stewardship

Hume's considerable improvement and impact under boss Artell has been mirrored by others within the Mariners squad this season.

Aforementioned midfielder Green has been in sensational form, with the 27-year-old, who has always been a willing, hardworking player, now showing real quality on the ball and an ability to get into the box and score goals himself.

The combination of those battling and technical qualities has seen the former Halifax man become integral to Artell's approach. Now one of the first names on the teamsheet, Green was understandably rewarded recently with a two-year contract extension, keeping him at Blundell Park until 2027.

Centre-back Harvey Rodgers is another who has looked far more at ease in recent times, by comparison to his first season with the club.

The former Accrington Stanley man has formed a good partnership with Cameron McJannet at the heart of the Mariners back four, and appears far more comfortable and consistent in his role than at any point previously.

Another to benefit from Artell's methods is midfielder Evan Khouri, who has gone from a promising young fringe player to a reliable, versatile member of the first-team squad on a weekly basis.

As the Mariners began the season plagued by injuries, Khouri stepped up and shone at the heart of the midfield, showing a level of experience beyond his years.

The former Crewe Alexandra boss played a part in the improvement of all these players, along with the recruitment and integration of new additions.

But while he'll be hoping to hold on to every key member of his squad, Hume is the only one of the above whose contract expires next summer, and as such, perhaps takes priority in terms of being offered a new deal at this juncture.

Mariners fans will be hoping that an agreement can be reached, as the 26-year-old begins to shine in the way he did at the Stadium of Light at the start of his career.