Hull City keeper Ryan Allsop believes the current Tigers squad offers him a viable route back into the Premier League, as reported by the print edition of Football League Paper (19/11).
The 31-year-old appeared briefly in the Premier League for Bournemouth and is keen to sample top-flight action again. After making his 350th senior appearance last weekend, he believes he could finally have found a route back into the top flight.
“This is the best squad I have been involved with since Bournemouth, 100%,” said the stopper, who has also featured for Derby, Wycombe and Lincoln City. “It maybe has more than that one had in terms of the levels in training, the way we do things, and the way things are put across to us.”
The Tigers are currently eighth under Liam Rosenior, level on points with sixth-placed Sunderland. Allsop believes if they remain focused, they will have the quality to find a way back into the top flight for the first time since 2017.
“It is important we keep grounded,” he added. “But, we are collectively working towards an end goal because we know the quality in the side and, in this game, you have to be ambitious and aim high.
“Everybody in football wants to play in the best league in the world, and I want to be able to do that again one day. Hopefully, sooner rather than later.”
Allsop came through the ranks at West Brom but had to move to Iceland for his first senior football experience with Hottur. He returned to the UK with Leyton Orient, joining Bournemouth, then a League One team, in 2012.
He was part of the squad that ascended to the Premier League but was used sparingly and had loan spells with Wycombe, Coventry, Portsmouth, Blackpool, and Lincoln. While playing for the Imps, he won the Checkatrade Trophy, debuting in the semi-final against Chelsea Under 21s and saving a penalty in the shoot-out.
He appeared twice for the Cherries in the Premier League, in a 3-3 draw with Everton in 2015/16 and in a 1-1 draw with Leicester late in the following season.
Following his release from Bournemouth, he joined Wycombe, whom he helped to the Championship in 2019/20, before spells at Derby and Cardiff led him to the MKM Stadium.
Writer’s View
Allsop has put in the hard yards during his career, dropping to the basement division on multiple occasions. However, every side he has been at has benefitted from his command of his area, towering presence, and calm, stoic approach to goalkeeping.
Hull are going well, and they’re benefitting from having a more experienced Allsop in the sticks. They’ve certainly got a strong squad, and in Liam Rosenior, they have a young coach who looks to have a bright future. It’s a good combination, and it wouldn’t be a complete surprise iff they’re not in the top six by the time May rolls around.
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