Hull City boss highlights reasons why deadline day transfer made sense
Ruben Selles says experienced defender John Egan will provide welcome cover, as well as experience, to Hull City's defensive ranks in the remaining weeks of the season.
The Republic of Ireland international was City's only arrival on deadline day after completing a permanent move from Burnley and is in line to make his Tigers debut at Turf Moor when the Tigers return to action next Wednesday night.
Selles believes Egan's arrival frees up Sean McLoughlin to operate on the left of the back four, as he has done to great effect in the previous three away wins on the spin at Blackburn Rovers, Millwall, and the 32-year-old's former club, Sheffield United, given the club were unable to add left-back cover following Ryan Giles' move to Middlesbrough.
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"When you analyse the market and the final position, we talk about having an extra defender. We have been struggling, especially with the injuries that we have in the back line," Selles told the 1904 Club.
"John is a centre-back with experience in the Championship that can give us (help) not only in the short term, also in the medium term. A good addition, great lad. He's pretty much what we want from a defender who allows us to play Sean (McLoughlin) in the full-back position, as he has been playing recently and has that extra number that can compete for the position.
"He's fully fit. I think he played his last game three weeks ago against Reading in the FA Cup. He's fully fit to play. He already had his first training session. At least he has been training and playing games, which is further than some others that have come with us this window."
Egan penned an 18-month deal at the MKM Stadium, and given his vast experience of more than four hundred career games with half of those coming in the Championship, and another 70-plus in the Premier League, his arrival has been as a valuable one given the lack of vast experience in Selles' squad, especially helpful for the likes of Charlie Hughes and Manchester City loanee Fin Burns as the Tigers face a fight for survival in the final 16 games.
Though the Tigers boss admits Egan's wealth of knowledge is important for the youngsters, his ability to come in and play games was the key factor in bringing him in for the next 18 months.
"I think it's always important to have the balance of the team and to remember that John is coming here just to fight for the position, not only to support the young players. He will try to make it harder for anyone, and he will try to keep his position as much as he can," Selles explained.
"It's a good mix because the kind of character that he is is also important. We have experienced that before with some other players. When everything connects, they are a great addition to the squad, and they make the team more competitive, so we expect John to be successful with us and have that kind of ability to compete for the line-up, to be in the line-up, and also to support his teammates."
