please log in to view this image Having been on the periphery for much of the season Tom Huddlestone explains how difficult it has been not playing regularly and why he has become worried about his future. Photo: ED SKYES Tom Huddlestone fears he is the odd man out as Hull City close in on a return to the Premier League. The midfielder has made 26 league appearances for the Tigers this term, 13 of which have come from the bench. But Huddlestone is unsure why he has hardly featured over the last few months. Hull currently sit top of the summit in the Championship and manager Steve Bruce is perhaps unwilling – for the time being, to make changes to what has otherwise been a winning formula. “I haven’t spoken to the gaffer really,” Huddlestone says in relation to his lack of game time. “I’ve just been biding my time and if I get to come on in matches, or come on in cup games, I just try and do the best I can. “Personally, I haven’t played as much as I would have liked to or expected to. Whenever I’ve had a chance to come on as a sub, or play a couple of games there and here, I feel as if my performances have been decent.” The last time Huddlestone started a game in the Championship for Hull was against fellow promotion rivals Brighton & Hove Albion on the 16th of February. But due to making a number of cameo outings for Hull this campaign, the 29-year-old is unsure what his future holds beyond the end of the season. Huddlestone’s contract with Hull expires in the summer and if he had it his way he would rather sign a contract extension, as well as help the club seal promotion in some sort of capacity, rather than the dreaded prospect of being a free agent. “The next main target is to get back playing regular football at the highest level possible, Huddlestone explains. “Trying to seal promotion back to the Premier League at the start of the season was always the aim and we’ve put ourselves in a good position to do so. “It would be good to achieve that goal with Hull, but I’m out of contract in the summer and nothing's been offered yet. So I’m not sure what will happen come the summer. Even though the team is playing really well at the minute, I can’t be too far away from getting back in the team. But hopefully it’s just a matter of time before the manager believes I warrant returning back to the side. “Ideally the best case scenario would be to get promoted with Hull, they offer me a new contract and play in the top-flight with them,” Huddlestone says. “But it hasn’t happened yet, so I guess I’m open to anything really.” This is a new territory for Huddlestone having been fortunate enough to of had that sense of security throughout his career. Huddlestone should be enjoying his football right now, but instead he is trying his best to remain upbeat and what has otherwise been a frustrating season. “I’m 29 now and I don’t want to be out of contract trying to find a new club,” he says. “You prefer to be settled with that security knowing where you’re going to be for the next three or four years. I haven’t played regularly and it’s sort of touch and go where I will be. It’s all up in the air at the minute. “It’s one of those things where you have to stay as positive as possible. There are times where if you’re not in the team, or if things aren’t going quite right when you’re on the pitch, then you tend to doubt yourself a little bit. But it's just a case of trying to stay focused and keeping that self-belief.” Huddlestone plans to have talks with his agent in order to assess his options. The midfielder has enjoyed his time at Hull, but would like more clarity over his future. “Since I’ve come here the manager’s been good to me to be fair,” Huddlestone says. “He’s given me the license to play and express myself and besides the last months it has been enjoyable up here. “My focus now is try and get in the team as soon as possible, gain promotion, then that would put me in a good position in the summer. I haven’t really spoken to my agent, because he was busy doing deals in the January transfer window. “I’m sure we’ll speak in a few weeks or close to the end of the season. But hopefully Hull would have come up with something by then. We’ll have to wait and see.” http://roshane6.blogspot.co.uk/2016/02/tom-huddlestone-interview_92.html?m=1
I think if we go up we'll offer an extension... if not he'll be released. and that is probably how it should be.
He needs to pull his finger from up his arse and start grafting. It's all well and good going and doing these sob story articles about wanting a new contract, not understanding why you're out of the starting 11. Simply Tom, you have been gash. You've been gash at a level lower than last season, that's why you haven't been offered a new deal. Deals need to be earnt, not just issued to offer a player a bit of security. Go and demonstrate on the pitch that you are worth a contract and maybe the club might be forthcoming with one. Look at two of your former Spurs colleagues for inspiration. That's the type of commitment we expect.
His best position is in midfield in a 3-5-2...but we've abandoned that formation for good by looks of it. In a 4-4-2 he's too slow...good passer...but too slow. I doubt we'd be top of the league if we'd played him instead of Livermore this season. Saying that he gives us the ability to switch to 3-5-2 if need be so I'd give him a new deal what ever league we end up in next season. Needs to grow that fro back...he was unstoppable with that barnet.
Yep I think that's what'll definitely happen. Not sure he'll get his '3 or 4 years security' though. 2 at best.
"I haven’t really spoken to my agent, because he was busy doing deals in the January transfer window." But not for him because there can't have been enough interest at his release clause. Maybe he's just worried there isn't so much interest in him now.
If he cannot get in the team in the Championship how does he expect things to change if we get promoted?
There wasnt any interestbin the Jan window in any of our players which i found surprising. Maybe coz we where ****e in Dec!!!
How time's have change for Tom, from being the first on the team sheet for city in the PL to being unable to command a place in the team in the championship, and to be fair to him from that article he sound's worried and with the amount of interest show in him in the passed couple of transfer window's he probably right to be so, I've a feeling that the days of mega buck wages are coming to an end for him.
"Dear all mid/lower PL clubs, I'm a free agent in 4 months. Come and get me" At 29 he'll be looking for one last pay day on a decent length contract with little resale value. I can see him moving to someone like Sunderland/West Brom/Bournemouth/Norwich on a free and pick up a nice wage based on his reputation. All comments aside - on his day he's a very good player that is more suited to the PL than Championship. I'd be happy to keep him if we go up as he adds a bit of quality to the squad. I think Bruce doesn't want to lose him either, he knows the score but is keeping him lappy with runouts like last night to pick up appearance bonus'. See what happens. I just hope if we do offer him a contract it's not too late.
showed a glimpsed of what he can offer with his through ball against Blackburn for our 2nd... maybe looked a simple pass but I reckon most of our other midfielders wouldn't have even seen it. I agree that he was one of the players 3-5-2 suited with 2 blokes next to him to do his running, but at times I think he gets a raw deal because he will go sideways or backwards, but I just think that's because hes an educated player who refuses to just lump it forward if nothing is on.
Yeah - if we go up I reckon we'll offer him two years and he'll sign for a club that offers him three years.
I agree with this, he is more suited to 352 and in the EPL gets more time on the ball. Chances are if we do go back up we may adopt that system again, with Dawson/Davies/Maguire at the back, assuming Davies signs a new deal.
Tom has many gifts, but mobility and application are not among them. There are periods in every game he plays when he starts trundling after the ball, never quite reaching it before it's passed on, meaning he's too often out of position. There aren't many clubs (any?) these days that can afford to carry a static, passive midfielder, regardless of how good his passing is. He never bloody scores either.
Yep - I'm not condemning him for that at all. I just think someone else will want him more than City will.
