April 5, 2025

Acun Ilicali and Tan Kesler deserve praise from Hull City manager Liam Rosenior for holding onto Manchester City loanee forward Liam Delap back in January.

Despite the forward’s injury that may have terminated his season on New Year’s Day away at Sheffield Wednesday, Hull City chose to keep him on the team until the summer.
The 21-year-old Delap is back with the Tigers and hopes to assist them make a late run at the top six after returning to the Etihad Stadium for treatment.

Rosenior has said, as per a report by HullLive: “I have to give credit to Acun and Tan for making that decision. We felt it was the right thing to do, not just because it was Liam Delap, but he was fully engrossed and embedded in being a Hull City player. He cares so much and he still does now; he sees himself as a Hull City player.

“He doesn’t see himself as a loan player, he wants to be successful here and it’s very important that you show loyalty at the right time to the people who earn it.”

Hull City loan decision hailed

Delap’s loan at Hull City has been a huge success and they would arguably be higher up the table if he had been fit these past few months.

The England youth international has scored eight goals in 31 games for Rosenior’s side in all competitions in this campaign.

He is due to return to Manchester City when this term ends and the Premier League champions have a big decision to make on what to do with him next.

Delap has been on the books at the Etihad Stadium since moving to the North West outfit in 2019 from Derby County.

Hull City, ‘Right thing to do’ – Hull City boss hails Manchester City transfer decision
Image courtesy of: LEE SMITH/REUTERS.

The attacker has since made six first-team appearances under Pep Guardiola and has scored once. He also had temporary spells away at Stoke City and Preston North End before linking up with Hull City.

He struggled for form during his time with the Potters and the Lilywhites but has really found his feet at the MKM Stadium. The Tigers drew 3-3 at home to Ipswich Town last time out to keep their play-off hopes alive.

They need to win at Plymouth Argyle on the final day and hope Delap’s former team Preston North End beat West Brom at the Hawthorns to snatch 6th place.

Hull City are unlikely to catch Norwich City now due to the Canaries’ superior goal difference.

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