Why Stephen Kingsley Is A Good Signing By Hull City
Championship side Hull City have completed the signing of left-back Stephen Kingsley from Premier League Swansea City for an undisclosed fee. The 23-year-old from Stirling, who can also play at center-back, has put pen to paper on a three-year deal with the Tigers with an option to extend by another twelve months.
Kingsley does have some Premier League experience, appearing 17 times for the Swans in England’s top flight after his move from Falkirk back in summer 2014 and he has also been capped once by Scotland. His only senior cap backs up his appearances for Scotland at under-18, 19 and 21 level and it seems like the time is right for him to kick on in his career now.
Kingsley’s arrival at the KCOM Stadium goes a fair way in ensuring they replace the departed Andy Robertson, though he does, of course, represent a distinct drop in quality after his fellow Scot’s defection to Liverpool. Unfortunately though, this is the level Hull City are at now and despite the lack of comparison between the two players, specialists are needed for Hull in this positiong and Kingsley is one.
Too many times, managers will play a player out of position because he has seniority or has experience, when in fact his performances could be detrimental to the club. Kingsley may not be Andy Robertson, but at least he is a left-back and going into the season without one would have been a bad, bad move.
Wolverhampton Wanderers, as well as for many other reasons, struggled last season without a proper left-back and moved swiftly to sign yet another Scot in the summer in the shape of Barry Douglas. It’s a position many clubs struggle with but this move alleviates some fears for Hull.
Balance is important to a side and Kingsley’s signing means Hull will at least not struggle for proper shape in their defence. He may not be a world beater, but the importance of this signing cannot be underestimated.
The left-footer started out at Falkirk back in 2010/11 and went on to make over 100 appearances for the Championship club before being whisked away by Swansea City. He made 24 appearances on loan for both Yeovil Town and Crewe Alexandra during his time in Wales but now needs to be a firm part of a settled XI once more, something he will achieve, now that he has made the move to play for Leonid Slutsky.