Allahyar Sayyadmanesh settling in at Hull City – he just needs goals

Yorkshire Post – HULL, It can be dangerous to make predictions in football, but one can safely be made regarding Hull City’s Iranian striker Allahyar Sayyadmanesh.

When he finally breaks his scoring duck for the Tigers – hopefully sooner rather than later – expect his team-mates to quickly make a beeline for him and warmly embrace him.

It will mean a lot to him and his team-mates, not to mention those close to him back in his home city on Amol, close to the Caspian Sea in northern Iran.

Moving between clubs in mid-season is rarely straightforward, more especially when you swap not only countries but differing cultures.

et since joining Hull City on loan in January. (Picture: Richard Sellers/PA)

That is the reality which confronted Sayyadmanesh when he switched to East Yorkshire from Turkish giants Fenerbache at the end of the January.

Brought in on loan with a view to the transfer being made permanent in the summer, the 20-year-old was always likely to require a period of integration.

With a full pre-season behind him, one school of thought suggests that 2022-23 might be his time when Hull – should they wish – will see the best of him.

So Hull may have to read beyond his current statistics – no goals in six games so far, with an injury not helping his cause.

In the here and now, he could just do with a goal to back the positive impression he has made on the training ground.

City head coach Shota Arveladze said: “If he’d scored last week, it would be much better for me and it would be a great leap. He has had two great chances in the last few weeks, but it will come.

“I would have liked to have used him much more, but he got injured and it takes time.

“But I was surprised from day one that he really integrated (fast) into the group. I think we should give a lot of credit to the club, the boys and the staff. They have opened the doors to the social life, which we have here.”

Given that this is his third loan spell away from Fenerbahce, having previously impressed during spells at İstanbulspor and Ukrainian outfit Zorya Luhansk, Sayyadmanesh clearly has a bit about him as an individual.

It is a view backed up by Arveladze, with the club going out of their way to help him assimilate into life in Yorkshire.

Events like on Thursday when Hull owner Acun Ilicali took players and coaching staff to an Italian restaurant for a team meal during a flying visit to the city, all help play their part.

Arveladze continued: “He (Sayyadmanesh) is good and passionate and he has a will to do well in football and they (Iranians) have this history.

“He has been raised well and knows about respect and his position and how to act with the boys in the dressing room from his mum and dad and friends.

“If we want people and players to succeed, we have to try and get them involved in every case.

“Let’s say they spend four hours at the club from 9am to one or 1.30pm. For the rest of the hours, they are outside.

“I don’t believe being on Zoom and Skype and having lunch with their families on the screen will make them play better. They have to be integrated. His English is good enough and his girlfriend is here.”

While Sayyadmanesh could be involved today, Mallik Wilks, the club’s top-scorer last season with 22 goals, is unlikely to be.

Despite City’s struggles for goals of late, Wilks – despite being fit again after recovering from a foot injury – has been omitted from several match-day squads. Given that he has scored in his last two games against Boro, he might be useful today.

On Wilks – out of contract in June although City have an option to add another year – Arveladze said: “I’ve spoken to him two or three times. He is a fantastic lad. I am just waiting for when he gets really fit and have talked to him about getting his energy and speed back.

“I am still pulling him out and telling him: ‘Come on, Mallik, we need you’.

“It can be quite long for speedy, heavy-muscled boys, like him. It is difficult to get to the level he was before. He had six to seven weeks out, then had a small injury and last week, he was sick and missed sessions. It is a little bit complicated.”