Burnley test will show how far Hull City have really come under Marco Silva

Follow us on Google Discover

Following a two week break, Hull City return to Premier League action this weekend with a home tie against Burnley.

Outsiders looking in may have thought that the Premier League’s two week hiatus came at the wrong time for Hull City. The Tigers have taken seven points from their last five games, a record made all the more impressive since four of those fixtures came against Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal.

The neutral then, may see that Hull City had finally picked up some momentum, and the last thing they needed was to see that interrupted, but in fact, quite the opposite is true. Marco Silva’s instant impact at the KCOM Stadium has not been the triumph of man management, but rather one of tactical nous, and a complete overhaul of the way in which the team trains and the ideas put across to them.

The progress that he made on that front in such little time is nothing short of remarkable. It is very noticeable that his players have bought into the way in which he wants them to play, and their match preparation during a congested period was commendable. Now though, comes arguably the biggest and most telling test of both Hull City and Marco Silva’s season.

Hull City new boys Kamil Grosicki and Alfred N’Diaye

Exactly two weeks separates Hull City’s last game, a defeat to Arsenal, and their next game, this weekend’s home tie with Burnley. During that time, the Tigers have travelled to the Algarve form some warm(ish) weather training. This ought to have been a fine opportunity for Silva to do so many things he never had the time to do when thrust into the hot seat back in January.

For the first time, he can genuinely assess his squad on the training ground. It also gives him the opportunity to take a close look at Ahmed Elmohamady and Dieumerci Mbokani, who hadn’t been present for almost the entirety of the Portuguese boss’ short tenure to date due to the African Cup of Nations.

Read: From Lyon to the US via Hull: The story of French prodigy Yann Ekra

Additionally, it is worth noting that Hull City were the most active Premier League club during the January transfer window. Seven fresh faces arrived at the KCOM Stadium and were immediately thrust into the action, with virtually no time to assimilate into the squad and get to know their teammates both on and off the pitch. This break should have allowed them to finally do just that.

Then comes the big question; if Marco Silva could change the way Hull City played so drastically with just days to prepare for games, what can he do in two weeks? The Tigers should be far better prepared for the visit of Burnley than any of their games against the likes of Liverpool and Manchester United.

Ahmed Elmohamady is back and available for Hull City

Silva’s men return to a wet and cold East Yorkshire, as ‘Storm Doris’ takes it’s toll on the UK. Burnley meanwhile arrive in the UK City of Culture as something of a wounded animal. Defeat to Lincoln City in the FA Cup left them humiliated, not least Joey Barton, and their Premier League away record is staggeringly poor.

All this should be cause for optimism among Hull City fans, the Clarets have picked up just 1 point away from home all season after all, but it is the hope that kills you, and the Tigers fans are all too aware that this kind of game has historically been a banana-skin for them.

Read: From Cairney to Donaldson: Hull City Homegrown XI

Whilst it is of course just one game, and Hull have many more massive games to come against the likes of Swansea and Leicester, it does feel like a hugely important tie. A victory would be the greatest vindication yet of Marco Silva’s ability on the training ground and his tactical nous, and also prove that he has the ability to win against a team that is unlikely to be as gung-ho as all his previous opponents in English football.

Hull City manager Marco Silva