With first-choice stopper Allan McGregor sidelined due to a long-term back injury, Hull snapped up David Marshall from Cardiff earlier this week. The Scotland international arrives for an undisclosed fee, believed to be worth up to £5 million.
The 31-year-old put pen to paper on a three-year deal with the Tigers, and speaking to the club’s official website, is hoping to claim a place in the Tigers’ first XI.
“It’s exciting to be coming back into the Premier League and to be joining Hull… 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… 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 History
Marshall was a product of the Celtic youth academy, and made his professional debut in 2002 against St Johnstone. He famously kept a clean sheet against Barcelona in the UEFA Cup in 2004 to help Celtic progress to the quarter-finals, but struggled to establish himself at Parkhead, making only 35 appearances in all competitions, and initially left to join Norwich on loan during the 2006/07 season.
That spell was curtailed by an ankle injury, but the Canaries saw enough in Marshall to sign him permanently in the summer of 2007. He spent two successful seasons at Carrow Road, playing all 92 league matches. Following the club’s relegation to League One, he departed for Cardiff in a deal worth up to £500,000.
He was a crucial member of the squad that won the Championship in 2012/13, and was named the club’s Player of the Year in their ill-fated season in the Premier League, which saw them immediately relegated back to the Championship.
The Scotland international maintained his form back in the second tier over the past two seasons, and has regularly linked with a return to the Premier League, with West Brom among the potential suitors.
Marshall made his senior debut against Hungary in August 2004 at the age of 20, but failed to cement a regular role in the Scotland squad. He later earned caps at Under 21 level and for Scotland ‘B’, and is currently back in favour under Gordon Strachan, having made 24 international appearances up to this point.
The Prospects
Marshall’s arrival at the KCOM Stadium is likely to spell bad news for Eldin Jakupovic, with the former Cardiff goalkeeper regarded as favourite to take over as the number one in McGregor’s continued absence.
Having started the season priced at 4.0 in Fantasy Premier League (FPL), Jakupovic has risen to over 20% ownership – the second most popular keeper in the game behind United’s David de Gea.
Second only to Burnley’s Tom Heaton for saves (15 to 18), Jakupovic would be hard done by to miss out in light of his heroics. Frustratingly from a Fantasy perspective, a drop to the bench would deprive us of a rare sub-4.5 starter between the sticks, with Marshall priced at 4.5.
Sunderland’s failure to land a new keeper last night means that Jordan Pickford is likely to be the only active enabler at 4.0.
The youngster withdrew from the England Under 21 squad earlier today with a thigh problem, though local reports indicate it’s no more than a precaution.
Deputising for the stricken Vito Mannone, Pickford made seven saves on his first start of the season in the Black Cats’ draw at St Mary’s. Earlier today, though, reports suggest that the Wearsiders hope they will be granted special dispensation by FIFA to sign another keeper.
It’s also worth noting that although Mannone was initially set to be sidelined for three months with an elbow injury, the Italian suggested on Twitter yesterday that he might be back sooner than expected.
Having only conceded two goals so far this season, members of Hull’s backline have been perhaps surprisingly valuable Fantasy assets, with Curtis Davies the standout option, due to his impressive CBI statistics and goal threat from set-pieces.
The captain may well prove worthy of his 5.0 price tag, then, particularly from Gameweek 8 onwards, when Hull embark on a very favourable run (bou, STO, wat, SOT, sun, WBA, mid, CPL) of fixtures.
Should Marshall be the first choice goalkeeper by then, he would also be worthy of serious consideration. Indeed, in his previous season in the top-flight with Cardiff back in 2013/14, the Scot chalked up 121 points and made more saves than any other keeper.
