The former Tottenham captain revealed when he should be back in action and what he’s made of Hull City’s start to the season.
Hull City’s Michael Dawson
Commanding centre-back Michael Dawson was interviewed by Hull City earlier today for the club’s official Youtube channel. The 32-year-old former Tottenham defender was arguably Hull’s best player last season, providing a solidity at the back as the Tigers earned an immediate return to the Premier League via the Championship play-offs.
Despite his fine form, injuries prevented him from being an ever-present in Steve Bruce’s defence, and he ended the season with 32 league appearances to his name from a possible 46. The ex-England international suffered a further injury setback during Hull City’s pre-season, which has seen him sidelined for the first six games of the Tigers season.
Dawson was one of a number of players to pick up injuries during a torrid pre-season for Hull City, and one which saw them kick off their Premier League campaign with just 13 fit senior players. Caretaker manager Mike Phelan has brought in six players since then though, and is now close to welcoming one of his most experienced players back into the fold.
Michael Dawson should seen be available to Mike Phelan
Dawson picked up his injury on the 19th of July, suffering a medial knee ligament injury whilst challenging for an aerial ball during the Tigers pre-season friendly away at Mansfield. The news was a severe blow to then-manager Steve Bruce, especially since right-back Moses Odubajo had been ruled out for six months only a day or two previously.
Initially ruled out for three months, Dawson appears to be ahead of schedule. Already back in training, this weekends clash with Chelsea is expected to come too soon for the player, but he should be in the mix when Hull travel to Bournemouth on the 15th of October.
“I’m close, maybe the Chelsea game is probably going to come too quick, I’ve been out three to four weeks with the fitness coach, working hard on my fitness and just trying to get over the little discomfort in my knee,” Dawson told Hull City’s Youtube channel today.
Jake Livermore has filled in at centre-back in Dawson’s absence
The injury to Dawson, twinned with injuries to the likes of Harry Maguire and Alex Bruce, has seen another former Tottenham man deputised in defence for Hull City. Jake Livermore has started every league game this season at the heart of the Tigers defence, even since the return of Maguire to first team action.
Dawson believes his teammate has handled the transition very well, “Jake slotted in there and looked like he’s played there for years, that didn’t surprise me, the way he plays and the way the game’s going, we get the ball down and play,” adding, “It’s a lot different to playing in the Championship, where the balls are coming in from all angles, you look at the teams we’re playing and he’s been magnificent.”
Hull City’s caretaker manager Mike Phelan also spoke about Jake Livermore’s new role in defence today, saying he was unsure whether Livermore wanted to remain there or move back into midfield. Phelan, like Dawson, alluded to the increasing number of teams who play the ball out from the back, and how he felt having a midfielder at the back could prove worthwhile.
Phelan now has a number of options in defence
With regards to Hull City’s start to the season, Dawson – like most people involved with the club – seemed very pleased. On the subject of the clubs back-to-back poor league results, he said, “[We’re] Obviously a little bit disappointed in the results we’ve had against Arsenal and Liverpool but that’s what’s going to happen sometimes when you play the top teams in the Premier League, we’ve got to learn our lessons and go again.”
With Dawson back in contention, Mike Phelan now has the choice of Curtis Davies, Jake Livermore, Harry Maguire and Michael Dawson to play in central defence. The Tigers could certainly use Jake Livermore’s energy in midfield for their trip to Bournemouth, but Phelan has home tie with Chelsea to worry about first and foremost, in which he will be without right-back Ahmed Elmohamady.
Elmohamady was dismissed at Anfield last weekend for handling the ball, and without an obvious deputy, Jake Livermore and David Meyler are the favourites to slot into the full back role, where they will be tasked with keeping Eden Hazard quiet. James Weir is one other option, the former Manchester United youngster played at right-back in the EFL Cup against Stoke, but is yet to even be named on the bench for a league game.
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