Hull’s Jakupovic ‘a showman full of confidence’ after penalty heroics

Flamboyant Hull City stopper Eldin Jakupovic is a showman who has earned his chance as a first-team regular, former Tigers’ goalkeeper Steve Harper has claimed.

Jakupovic was star of the show last weekend after his last-minute penalty save helped City gain a crucial point against Southampton in their fight against relegation.

Things have not always been plain sailing for 32-year-old Swiss, who has only just nailed down the no.1 jersey for the Premier League outfit.

Harper, 42, said: “I used to regularly meet Eldin for a coffee nearby to the training ground in Cottingham and we’d chat about all things football.

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“Eldin didn’t enjoy the best start to his time with Hull and Steve (Bruce) probably didn’t see that consistency in him at the time me and Allan McGregor arrived, but it was clear in my two years there that he was still a talented goalkeeper.”

Now, having found his feet in England’s top tier, Jakupovic has become a showman, according to the ex-Newcastle stalwart.

“There’s a definite bit of him being a showman,” Harper said. “It’s like if you see a swan gliding across the water, you don’t see the legs going ten to the dozen underneath.

“There is that showmanship about Eldin but he’s doing well so why wouldn’t his confidence be high?

“His best years are definitely still ahead of him. He’s a fit lad and he’ll be learning all the time by playing every week in the Premier League.”