Joe Gelhardt is one of the summer arrivals looking to make his mark
Joe Gelhardt is one of the summer arrivals looking to make his mark
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It's been a terrific start to the new season for Hull City, who took eight points from their opening five Premier League games following that dramatic promotion.
After a three-week international break, City are back in top-flight action on Sunday when they host Everton at the MKM Stadium, looking to bounce back after losing 2-1 at Newcastle United last time out.
There have been some impressive displays in the opening weeks, from Konstantinos Tzolakis, to John Egan, to Nobel Mendy and through to Mo Belloumi, but there are a host of players still looking to make their mark.
That's for a host of reasons, whether it's fitness issues or simply a lack of real minutes so far, but with five more outings to come before the next round of international fixtures, Sergej Jakirovic has plenty of players keen to make an impact...
Matt Targett
The summer signing has struggled with fitness since arriving, with his only league appearance coming on the opening day when he played the final five minutes of the win over Manchester United. Signed to challenge Ryan Giles, the former Middlesbrough loanee has not yet made any kind of impact in East Yorkshire, and will be aiming to stay fit and available and get his chance in the next block of games, though dislodging Giles will not be easy given how well he's started the campaign.
Jens Hjerto-Dahl
One of City's high-profile summer arrivals, the Norwegian has only three more minutes of Premier League action than Targett, with those coming off the bench against Aston Villa in the Tigers' second home outing. Aged just 20, Hjerto-Dahl is viewed as a player with significant potential by the club, which is why they spent significant money on him, and there is no rush for him to suddenly make what is a gigantic step up; he will be given time and maybe even a loan move, potentially later in the season. He's another who will hope for his chance, and if that does come, he'll know he needs to grasp it, given the competition in the midfield area.
Brooke Norton-Cuffy
Another of the summer signings that has struggled with fitness since arriving, playing only 34 minutes of Premier League football so far in games against Villa and Newcastle. His injury issues saw him miss out on playing for Lee Carsley's England Under-21s during the international break, so getting himself back to fitness and being in a place to challenge Lewie Coyle will be high on his agenda.
Lucas Gourna-Douath
It's been an eventful start to life in East Yorkshire for the Frenchman, impressing in the limited displays we've seen from him. His 139 minutes have come across games against Coventry City, Aston Villa and Newcastle. His sole start against Villa was encouraging, as was his second-half display in Coventry after replacing Morita at half-time. Just hours after becoming the second City player to roll his car outside the training ground, the 23-year-old was on the scoresheet along with Joe Gelhardt in that behind-closed-doors success over Chris Wilder's Blades.
The 1904 Club Hull City live podcast event
The 1904 Club is heading out of the studio for a special live event at the New Walton Club in Hull, East Yorkshire, on Tuesday, 20 October 2026.
Hull City reporter Barry Cooper will be joined by David Burns and Kathryn Batte for a live podcast recording. In association with Hull City and our sponsors Pickering and Ferens, the event will also feature an exclusive chat with club chairman Acun Ilıcalı and will feature a sit down with assistant head coach Dean Holden (the chairman's appearance is subject to work commitments in Turkey).
Gather your fellow fans and join us at the New Walton Club for an evening of football debate, black-and-amber camaraderie and a chance to celebrate City's Premier League adventure. Tickets are priced at £10 including booking fee. You can purchase your tickets here.
Morita
It's been a hugely frustrating start to life in England for the Japan ace, with his only league outing so far coming in the first half at Coventry, after a cameo in the EFL Cup win at Stoke City a few days earlier. Nearing a return to full fitness, the experienced midfielder must surely be aiming to force his way into the reckoning over the next month. There's no doubt about his quality, and we've seen bits of that already, but the Tigers will want to see a lot more.
Tim Iroegbunam
It's such a shame that the dominant midfielder has struggled with the injury, which very nearly scuppered his move to the MKM Stadium from Everton, and will see him miss the reunion with the Toffees this weekend. Fingers crossed, he will be available for Fulham. Like one or two others, getting and staying fit for the next month will be his biggest challenge, because he's shown in his 70 minutes so far just what a good player he is.
Christos Mouzakitis
The talented Greek midfielder has been away on international duty with his country, and it's been a positive experience for the 19-year-old in terms of results, with two wins and two draws. His 22-minute cameo off the bench in the goalless draw with Jurgen Klopp's side was his only outing.
He's still waiting to make his Premier League bow, having been on the bench for the home stalemate with Villa, but did play half an hour at Sunderland in the EFL Cup.
Darko Gyabi
Back in training after missing the early weeks of the season, Gyabi faces quite the challenge to force his way into Jakirovic's thinking, given the options he has in midfield. The former England youngster has been sidelined since suffering a serious groin problem in the opening pre-season game of the summer, but having him back gives the boss more options.
Mohamed-Ali Cho
Although the winger bagged a fine goal at St James' Park, he's only played 72 minutes since joining the club. After seven and eight-minute cameos against Coventry City and Aston Villa, where he passed up a good chance to win it, he was given half an hour at Chelsea, again fluffing a huge chance before playing 27 on Tyneside. At St James', he created two chances from only 12 touches in the game, having scored only four minutes after coming on, which is perhaps an indication of him settling in more, getting fitter and giving Jakirovic a bigger selection headache.
Robinho Vaz
Ranked as one of the quickest players in the Premier League, the youngster has amassed just 20 minutes in the top flight, though he was given a start at Sunderland in the EFL Cup and should have been given an early penalty. He had eight minutes at Chelsea and 12 at Newcastle, as he's given time to adapt to life in England. Just 19, Vaz is another viewed with a bright future, and with three home games to come in the next five, opportunity will no doubt knock for the Roma loanee to really make an impact and prove he's capable of playing at this level.
Joe Gelhardt
The terrace favourite is only just getting back to full fitness after arriving at City with an ankle injury, making his third league debut for the Tigers off the bench in the closing stages in the North East. The forward will have been pleased to get a goal in the 2-0 friendly win over Sheffield United last Friday, and hopefully for him, those minutes will continue to increase in the coming games.