• More: 2016/17 Premier League fixtures in UAE time
The National's sports team is counting down the days until defending champion Leicester City take on newly promoted Hull City in the opening fixture of the 2016-17 English Premier League season by looking at one team a day. Today, Hull City.
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An owner desperately trying to sell a club that is now seeking a new manager after Steve Bruce resigned on Friday, Hull City’s build-up to their return season in the Premier League is proving nothing short of disastrous. The likes of Ryan Giggs, Mike Phelan, and Roberto Martinez have all been touted to succeed Bruce, yet none of these potential candidates will fill the fans with optimism ahead of what is sure to be a relegation dogfight.
We have seen time and again the benefit of a stable, well-planned pre-season, and the instability surrounding Hull will spell trouble unless something drastic changes in the next few weeks. At the time of Bruce’s resignation, Hull boasted 13 available senior players, and the three month injury layoff of captain Michael Dawson is a major blow. There is an outline of a capable team, with the likes of Tom Huddlestone and Jake Livermore in midfield, and Abel Hernandez in attack, but additions need to be made before the season for Hull to avoid the immediate drop.
The new manager could have an almighty task on his hands, but if he gets his message across quickly and the team clicks, Hull could perform above expectations. A slow start and a swift return to the Championship could beckon.
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Countdown series schedule
• Today: Hull City
• Tomorrow: Middlesbrough
• Tuesday: Burnley
• Wednesday: Sunderland
• Thursday: Bournemouth
• Friday: Crystal Palace
• Saturday: West Bromwich Albion
• Sunday, July 31: Watford
• Monday, Aug 1: Swansea City
• Tuesday, Aug 2: Everton
• Wednesday, Aug 3: Chelsea
• Thursday, Aug 4: Stoke City
• Friday, Aug 5: Liverpool
• Saturday, Aug 6: West Ham United
• Sunday, Aug 7: Southampton
• Monday, Aug 8: Manchester United
• Tuesday, Aug 9: Manchester City
• Wednesday, Aug 10: Tottenham
• Thursday, Aug 11: Arsenal
• Friday, Aug 12: Leicester City
• Saturday, Aug 13: Premier League season begins
jturner@thenational.ae
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