Former Manchester United striker Will Keane and Cardiff City goalkeeper David Marshall have both been giving their thoughts following their moves to Hull City this weekend.
Beginning with Keane, the 23 year old told the Official Site that having had a number of loan moves away from Old Trafford to aide his development as a player, he felt the time was now right to settle down at a club and get himself going properly.
‘I`m 23 now, so I wanted to come here on a permanent transfer and get settled. I`m at that age where I want to be playing as many games as possible. I`ve been at Manchester United for a long time, so it is the end of an era but I couldn`t really see a path through to the first team there. I`m relishing coming to Hull. Mike Phelan was a big factor in the move. I spoke to him a couple of times before making the decision, and obviously he was at United as assistant manager when I made my first team debut there. He was really good with me there and I`m looking forward to working with him again here. I want to push myself to play at the highest level and right now that is the Premier League.’
As for Hull’s start to the year, he’s looking forward to hopefully keeping that momentum going so we enjoy a good campaign following promotion.
‘It`s been a really good start and it has maybe taken a few people by surprise, but having played against Hull last season I know the quality there is within the squad so it hasn`t really been a surprise to me. Hopefully we can continue that after the international break and I can play my part in that. My main aim as a striker is to get into the box and score goals, and hopefully if the chances come my way here I can take them. People will judge me on the goals I score, so that is what I want to do.’
With Burnley being his potential debut in the next game, Keane will be facing off against somebody very familiar to him as twin brother Michael plays in their backline.
‘I played against him last season and came out on top, although it`s all-square overall in terms of the outcome when we play each other. With him being a centre half, hopefully I`ll be directly up against him. His job will be to kick lumps out of me, whereas it`s a bit more tricky from my point of view! But the only important thing is that we go there and play well to pick up a result.’
As for Marshall, having been linked with a number of Premier League clubs following Cardiff’s relegation the other season, he’s finally got his move back to the top flight.
‘It`s exciting to be coming back into the Premier League and to be joining Hull. It was a difficult decision to move on from Cardiff because I spent a lot of time there, and it wasn`t a decision that I took lightly, but I just felt that the time was right. Having spoken to the people up here, I didn`t need any convincing. It`s all about having that new, fresh challenge to look forward to. I feel that this is a club that is going places, especially when you look at the start they have made to the Premier League season. This is the league where everybody wants to be. I had a little taste of it with Cardiff two or three years ago, and when you look at the managers and players that have come into the league this summer it has probably grown since that time. For Hull to be there, and for me to have the opportunity to come in and play there, those were the important factors in my decision to make the move.’
Coming in as a regular No 1 for Cardiff, Marshall also said that he knew he faced good competition for the jersey given the performances of Eldin Jakupovic in particular this year.
‘I think there are only four or five goalkeepers in this division who can categorically say that they are their club`s number one. Of course I anticipate a battle for the jersey. You can`t take anything for granted and I`m here to fight for a place, I`ve always been like that wherever I`ve been. The standard in the Premier League is higher than anywhere and I know that I`ve got a tough fight on my hands. It`s something that I`ll look forward to and not shy away from.’
