The Tigers have utilised the loan market to good effect this season
Barry Cooper Hull City correspondent
10:51, 09 Feb 2026
Lewis Koumas has a goal and assist from his three cameo appearances for City
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Lewis Koumas has a goal and assist from his three cameo appearances for City(Image: George Wood/Getty Images)
Former Sunderland striker Kevin Phillips has backed Toby Collyer and Lewis Koumas to be a success at Hull City, after joining from Manchester United and Liverpool, respectively.
Both players were summer targets for Sergej Jakirovic before opting to go elsewhere in the first half of the season, before then deciding to join City's promotion push during the latter days of the January transfer window.
Koumas made an instant impact last weekend when he stepped off the bench to score the winner at Blackburn Rovers just four minutes after coming on.
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Collyer made his debut in the final stages on Saturday at the MKM Stadium as City were beaten 3-2 by Bristol City, with Koumas carving out the chance for Kieran Dowell to score the second.
Phillips, who previously admitted to being impressed by the Tigers' transfer work this season, despite being forced to work under an EFL transfer fee restriction, believes both players will make a big difference in the remaining weeks of the season as the Tigers look to seal what would be a stunning promotion to the Premier League.
"That’s what you want. United and Liverpool, they want players to go and play and shine," the Black Cats legend said in conversation with BestBettingSites. "And the clubs that are bringing them in, that’s what you want. You want young freshness, youthfulness for them to come in. And it paid off already. There’s been another couple of signings, I think Paddy McNair, with his experience, has come in, and Kieran Dowell. So, I think there’s a mixture there.
"But Koumas and Collyer have got good experience training with top, top-class players, and that can only help. Koumas obviously scored on his debut, so he’s made an impact straight away, and that’s what you want as a manager. I think bringing in those players will really strengthen their squad.
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