_**Stuart Raynor, Yorkshire Post chief football writer**_
"Hull City's Championship play-off-winning side was battle-hardened and mentally very tough. The personnel when they return to the Premier League will be quite different, but the aim will be to keep those qualities intact.
"Hull did not get out of the second tier by having one of the three most talented squads. They did it by stocking up on experienced pros who have been the course and distance before. And in a season when they were banned from buying players or even paying loan fees for them, it paid big dividends.
"Financial issues are in play again, with the Tigers needing to raise about £6m before the end of June to meet their financial fair play requirements but they should be able to do it. And once that slate is clean, they will set on spending as much of their newly won Premier League money as possible. They have an ambitious chairman in Turkish media mogul Acun Ilicali, and pushing the limits is what has got them to this point in a footballing and financial sense.
"In Sergej Jakirovic, they have a very charismatic coach but a much more pragmatic one than his footballing romantic chairman, who always preaches open, attacking football but was overjoyed when his team sat back, soaked up the pressure and hit Middlesbrough on the counter-attack in the Championship play-off final.
"Jakirovic likes a 4-2-3-1 but is not afraid to go with a back five when he needs to. His team is better when the opposition have more possession, which will come in handy in the Premier League, especially at places like Anfield.
"And although there will be an influx of new faces with his knowledge of Croatian football, head of recruitment Martin Hodges' thick contacts book and Ilicali's love of flair players and knowledge of the Turkish Super Lig all likely to come into play, last season's team will not be jettisoned completely.
"Oli McBurnie is a big centre-forward who likes to get stuck into some wrestling with centre-backs, but has a good touch and is comfortable dropping off.
"Liverpool academy graduate [**Liam Millar**](https://www.liverpoolfc.com/info/liam-millar) and Mo Belloumi are proper wingers getting back to their best after anterior cruciate knee ligament ruptures in 2024-25. Joe Gelhardt is a No.10 who has shone in the second tier but never made much impact with Leeds United in the top division.
"Charlie Hughes is a highly rated centre-back. Ryan Giles a left-back who likes to get forward and cross in the style of one of his Hull predecessors, Andy Robertson. Regan Slater is one of those unheralded central midfielders whose value is only obvious when he is missing.
"Hull will need plenty of extra quality to prosper in the top division, but they enjoy being written off and will be absolutely determined not to make up the numbers next season."