The forward was named in the squad for the opening day clash at Coventry
05:00, 11 Aug 2025
Joe Gelhardt back in action for Hull City at Coventry on Saturday
Joe Gelhardt back in action for Hull City at Coventry on Saturday(Image: Will Cooper/Shutterstock)
Sergej Jakirovic says Joe Gelhardt's flexibility and determination to return to Hull City ensured it was an easy decision to bring him back to the club.
Gelhardt returned to City on Friday after a season-long loan deal was struck with Leeds United. The forward came off the bench 80 minutes into the Tigers' opening day draw at Coventry City on Saturday afternoon.
The 23-year-old forward made clear throughout the summer his desire to come back to the MKM Stadium, having enjoyed a positive loan spell in the second half of last season, helping keep the Tigers in the Championship.
City boss Jakirovic, in watching the games from last season, was impressed with what Gelhardt offered and made him one of his primary summer targets.
"He was my vision," the Bosnian told Hull Live. "I asked so many times about him because in our situation with the embargo and everything else, he wanted to come to us. We need such a player, and there's no adaptation time. The group likes him and he knows our environment as well, so this is a very, very good choice for us."
Last term under Ruben Selles, Gelhardt was often deployed on the right or left side of the attacking three. While the right side was where he came on against the Sky Blues, that was through necessity, with Jakirovic keen to play him as a second striker behind either Kyle Joseph or Oli McBurnie.
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"I saw that he can play in a few positions," he said. "Mostly, he played like a right winger because of the Mohamed Belloumi and Liam Millar situation, but normally, he's a second striker. He's like a number 10 position, so I think he will be useful for us. He also has a good left foot (good from set pieces, a good shot from distance, creativity, ideas, and he's a young player, which is also important."
While City were defensively resolute against Frank Lampard's side, they struggled to create too much, bar two terrific openings for Matt Crooks and Abu Kamara.
Jakirovic feels that once Gelhardt and Oliver McBurnie get up to speed, then his side will start to enjoy more success in the final third, having been short on creativity.
"Yes, but I think we will have this (more threat) with Oli, with Kyle (Joseph), with Gelhardt, because they have only had one or two training sessions with us, but because of their condition at the moment, we decided that they will be on the team sheet.
"For us, it's a very big value, especially for Oli and Gelhardt, because they know the environment, they know the league, and they know everything, so there is less adaptation time.
"We have David Akintola, who will join us. He's already in Hull, but he will train with us, and maybe be involved at Wrexham, we will see, so we have many more options from the bench.
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"The most important thing is who will finish the game. OK, you choose the first eleven, but you must think because of five substitutions, it gives you more options."
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