Hull City have yet to win under new head coach Tim Walter

As squad rebuilds go, they don’t come much bigger than Hull City’s this summer. Over 20 players left the MKM Stadium. Fifteen new signings made, including four on deadline-day.

It is completely understandable that there will be some teething problems as the new-look Tigers squad to get grips with head coach Tim Walter’s methods. It was never going to happen overnight.

But after failing to win any of their opening four Championship matches, it is crucial City string a few positive results together after the two-week international break to lift morale around the place. “It’s a new style of play all about connections and relationships,” said defender Alfie Jones, one of the few survivors from last season’s squad. “It’s a crucial two weeks.

“There’s a lot of movement in the back four and it’s about building that into the midfield and attackers. He likes the back four to move and get the ball forward and the midfield to stay away and move off the back of the others.

“There’s been situations in all the games where we’ve created opportunities from the movement so the lads definitely have faith.”

Jones admitted that his side struggled to cope with Leeds United’s intense high press on Saturday as the Tigers left Elland Road empty-handed. “The first five to 10 minutes we couldn’t get out of our half, especially when playing out as they had a high press on us, and we couldn’t get out of that,” he said.

“I felt we grew into the first half and created some half-chances and got into the final third, but we lacked that cutting edge and final ball just to get that chance on goal. Similarly in the second half, we got into some good situations until that final pass. It’s frustrating to not keep a clean sheet and to concede two – I thought we actually defended our box well and set-plays well – it was just a frustrating day, overall.”

Now Walter has got plenty of time on the training ground to work with his players and implement his style of play. City are without a match until Friday, September 13, when they entertain Sheffield United.

He added: “The window has closed now, and I think the break has come at the perfect time and it’s a chance for us to build those relationships with the new players coming in and understand the new style that the manager wants.

“As I said, it’s come at the perfect time for us to now get our heads down and work hard. We need to stay together- that’s the most important thing – and get to work and try and be better going forward.”