Jakirovic's influence is very clear

BUT HE NEEDS MORE PLAYERS

- By BARRY COOPER

Hull City returned to Humberside airport on Sunday afternoon with a spring in their collective step after a hugely positive week in the Turkish sunshine.

City flew out with growing uncertainty and worry about the situation with their finances, having been firmly placed on the EFL's naughty step alongside the absolute basket case that is Sheffield Wednesday.

While the Tigers remain rooted to that step and the EFL is not ready to let them come off it just yet, the focus in Riva has been on the football, and what head coach Sergej Jakirovic can actually impact. Based on what we've seen, that's quite a lot.

Admittedly, Jakirovic’s interview with the Mail after the win over Istanbulspor on Tuesday was strikingly similar to Tim Walter's at the same point 12 months ago.

The Bosnian admitted he was frustrated, and needed players. A year ago, Walter stood pitchside at Saracoglu and said the same thing after watching his team battered by Fenerbahce.