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Hull v Tottenham: Three Tigers players fired up to face former side Spurs on Super Sunday

Huddlestone, Dawson and Livermore up against old club mates

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Tottenham will come up against three familiar faces – and three men with a point to prove – when they head to Hull on Super Sunday.

Tom Huddlestone, Michael Dawson and Jake Livermore have all swapped White Hart Lane for the KC Stadium in the past 15 months – and the trio are determined to remind Spurs what they’re missing out on.

Read on for our closer look at Hull’s former Tottenham trio, check out our interview with Huddlestone in the video above and then watch Hull v Tottenham on Super Sunday, from 3.30pm on Sky Sports 1 HD…

Michael Dawson

Image: Dawson: Hulls' new recruit

Dawson signed for Steve Bruce's side in August after nearly 10 years at White Hart Lane, following in the footsteps of older brother Andy, who spent a decade in the Tigers’ defence. Injury has limited his number of appearances so far this term, but the four-time England international has nonetheless had an impact at Hull, picking up an impressive 7.6 ranking for his six outings this term with ‘Who Scored?’

HE SAYS:  “I'm good friends with Jake and Tom, but it's not just them, it's the whole football club. I know the city, I know the club. It all played a big part [in his decision to join]. Leaving Tottenham after ten years was always going to be hard for me, but the chances to play there were going to be less and so a move to Hull City represented a great opportunity for me. At the end of the day, footballers want to play football and that wasn’t going to happen for me at Tottenham. Once the owners and the manager here had been in touch with me about the possibility of a move, I just knew it was right.”

THEY SAY: “Daws brings leadership, he’s very good on the ball,” says Huddlestone. “Defensively he is very clever and obviously he’s not been at Tottenham for 10 years for no reason. I was surprised Spurs let him go because even last season he played near enough every game for them. He’s only 30 so hopefully we can get three or four good years from him. Spurs’ loss is our gain.”

Tom Huddlestone

Live Ford Super Sunday

Hull’s capture of £5.25m signing Huddlestone in August 2013 was seen as a significant move by the then-Premier League new boys – and the playmaker has repaid Steve Bruce’s faith in him. The central midfielder – who racked up over 200 appearances for Spurs in all competitions – carved out 59 chances for his Hull team-mates last season, ranking him 20th in the league in that department. He also netted a key goal in the club’s FA Cup semi-final win over Sheffield United and even went in goal when Allan McGregor was sent off against Crystal Palace in January.

HE SAYS: “I saw potential in the squad last year which made me sign. I didn’t feel I got a fair crack of the whip [under former Spurs boss Andre Villas-Boas]. I’d play some games and the results were good and my personal performances were good, and then I’d find myself out of the team for six or seven weeks without any explanation. I was fairly happy with the way I performed last season, so hopefully I can kick on and do the same this season.”

THEY SAY: “For me, there is no one better in the country right now,” said team-mate Alex Bruce after a 6-0 win over Fulham last season. “His goal against Fulham was unbelievable and then he hits a free-kick from 45 yards which creates another goal. Only certain people can do that. If Roy Hodgson had been there against Fulham, then Tom would be on the plane to Brazil. It was a master-class performance – one of the best I’ve ever seen. He was unplayable and in a different class. If Tom keeps playing like that he has to be in contention for England. There is not an if, but or maybe about it.”

Jake Livermore

Livermore moved to Hull at the same time as Huddlestone, initially on a season-long loan, which was made permanent in June for a then-club-record £8m. The midfielder, who was loaned out to six different clubs after coming through the Spurs youth system, put a frustrating time at Tottenham behind him last season to help the Tigers to the FA Cup Final. With an 85% pass success rate this term the Hull playmaker is beginning to make waves.  

Jake Livermore during May's FA Cup final at Wembley
Image: Livermore: Pass master

HE SAYS: “I was a local boy and Tottenham are my club, ten minutes from my home, but I had to get away and if it meant going 200 miles to play regular football then so be it,” he told the Daily Mail. “I'd had too many broken promises over the years at Tottenham; coaches saying I would get my chance if I played well then you would find another eight midfielders suddenly ahead of you. But we’ve got a great team spirit and plenty of quality at Hull. The manager has attracted players such as Curtis Davies, Abel Hernandez and Hatem Ben Arfa; nearly all of us are players with something to prove who have been given a second chance. That gives us a certain edge.”

THEY SAY: Steve Bruce, after signing Livermore: “It was always my priority to secure Jake. Anyone who saw him play last year would know he can only get better. He's come back lean and strong and if he keeps progressing like we all think he can then we'll have a hell of a player on our hands. It was a phenomenal first season, really terrific. That was only his first real season. He's got all the attributes of a modern day footballer; he's big, he's strong, powerful and handles the ball well. He is the modern day midfield player.”

Watch Hull v Tottenham, from 3.30pm on Super Sunday on Sky Sports 1 HD

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