With speculation surrounding the future of manager Steve Bruce, three long-term injuries, no major new signings, the club up for sale and a slow start to pre-season fixtures, Hull City fans will start to feel concerned about their upcoming return to the Premier League.
Stalemate against Grimsby
After losing Alex Bruce and Alan McGregor to injuries that will keep them out for half the season last week, Steve Bruce would have been hoping that his returning first team players could make it through their first pre-season friendly against Grimsby Town unscathed. Yet one of their star players from the Championship last season, right-back Moses Odubajo, fell awkwardly in just the fifth minute of the game. Scans have shown that the 22 year old has ruptured a medial ligament and will be out of action for up to six months.
That evening did not get much better for a strong Hull side as they looked lifeless against the League Two outfit. Robert Snodgrass should have scored from a free header at the back post, whilst youngsters Greg Olley and Jarrod Bowen both went close, with the latter hitting the crossbar. Grimsby themselves hit the woodwork as they proved to be a match for their esteemed opposition, with only Mo Diame showing any sort of sharpness out of the first teamers on show for the Tigers.
Mixed start for Hull's youngsters
A less experienced Hull side faired better the following evening against North Ferriby United in the Billy Bly Memorial Trophy. Olley and Bowen continued their impressive displays, with the former opening the scoring as he latched onto a cross from the returning Ahmed Elmohamady. Greg Luer added a second but Hull by no means outclassed the non-league opposition who had chances of their own in the early stages. The youngsters themselves have not excelled during pre-season, with the Academy side getting hammered by Swansea's youth products 5-1 in Austria.
Many Hull fans have taken to social media this week, expressing their desire for Bruce to extend the squad, especially in the wake of recent injuries. The Tigers continue to be linked with a number of players, as Cardiff City goalkeeper David Marshall is added to the list, whilst former Stoke City striker Peter Odemwingie has joined the club on a trial.