Hull City

Steve Bruce delighted with striking depth

By Joe Fish, Reporter | 11 February 2014

Hull City manager Steve Bruce admits that he has a "nice" selection problem now that Shane Long and Nikica Jelavic have given them greater attacking depth.

Steve Bruce has said that the January signings of Shane Long and Nikica Jelavic have given Hull City greater depth and quality in attack.

The two strikers were brought to the KC Stadium for a combined fee of £14m in the last transfer window to try to fire the goal-shy Tigers away from relegation trouble.

Bruce also has Sone Aluko, who has returned from a three-month injury layoff, Yannick Sagbo and Matty Fryatt among his forward options, and he admits that he is now facing a "nice" selection dilemma.

"It is a nice problem to have," the manager told the Hull Daily Mail. "It might be a bit too adventurous to play all three. We will have a look. We normally don't play two strikers, never mind three.

"We've all seen Sone Aluko. We just need him to stay fit. He doesn't have to prove anything to anyone. He's just such a natural footballer."

Bruce is also pleased with Long and Jelavic, whose fledgling partnership has so far mustered three goals in three games.

"Jelavic could have scored six or seven for us so far. You hope when he gets a goal he gets more," he said.

"They are a good foil for each other, and we have got to find a system of playing two strikers up top because not many do.

"I have always said you are only as good as your strikers and those two are very good for us, especially as a newly-promoted side."

Hull host Southampton on Humberside in Premier League action on Tuesday.