Marshall content in Hull City goalkeeper gang

Goalkeeper David Marshall has fought off stiff competition to start three times for Hull City this year and despite a stacked roster of stoppers, the Scotsman insists camaraderie on Humberside is higher than ever.

Fellow Scottish international Allan McGregor is on the road to injury return at the KCOM Stadium, while Mike Phelan also has Dusan Kuciak and Eldin Jakupovic at his disposal between the sticks.

With four high-quality stoppers competing for one spot you might expect high tension and flared tempers, but Marshall insists they are all thick as thieves.

Former Cardiff City man Marshall, who has 25 Scotland caps, also revealed the increasing pressure to become a ‘sweeper-keeper’ in the Premier League.

“I have been really, really lucky in my career that I have never had any bad relationships goalkeeper-wise, I think it’s just accepted that there’s only one place,” Marshall said.

(Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

“But it can spur you on, the goalkeepers here – with Alan just coming back from injury – are a great group, a real squad environment here. That’s what the gaffer wanted and I think that’s how we’ve started well and picked up our points.

“In the next few years, you will see a big change – I think Manuel Neuer has probably had a lot to do with that in the way that he plays and with Pep coming in, he has asked Claudio Bravo to play differently to any other player has done in this league.

“Coaching has probably changed, managers want to play out from the back a bit more and goalkeepers might train more in maintaining possession, maybe tactical work with the team than in previous years – I think you’ll see even bigger changes over the next two or three years.”