Snodgrass signing only the start if Hull hope to cope with Europe

Hull City, 9/4 with Coral to be relegated from the Premier League in 2014/15, are preparing to play in Europe for the first time in their history next season. The Tigers have added Norwich City winger Robert Snodgrass to Steve Bruce’s squad for a reported fee of between £6m and £8m.

We have seen with the likes of Newcastle United and Swansea City in recent years how difficult it can be juggling domestic football with continental competitions. Neither of those sides went down when featuring in the Europa League mind, and Hull are expected to avoid the drop too as they are odds-on at 1/3 to stay up.

In Snodgrass, Bruce has a proven Premier League performer. The Scotland international, 26, has been hugely consistent in his two top-flight seasons with Norwich, netting six times in each campaign. Playing in Europe – provided Snodgrass’ new club come through two qualifying rounds – will only enhance his prospects of a starting berth for his country further.

Personal benefits for Snodgrass aside, the Tigers do have a small squad, which history shows will be stretched by the pattern of regular matchdays on Thursdays and Sundays. England cap Jake Livermore made his loan spell from Spurs permanent too, so Hull, as of 1st July, have a roster of 21 senior players to pick from.

Beaten FA Cup finalists in 2014, Bruce’s boys have largely kept continuity in terms of personnel. Only 30-somethings Robert Koren, deposed as captain in favour of Curtis Davies, and Abdoulaye Faye, a marginal figure upon their top-flight return, are notable departures.

When Hull splashed out on assembling a new strikeforce of Nikica Jelavic and Shane Long in January, the writing was on the wall for Matty Fryatt. Bruce picked him throughout their run to Wembley because the fresh faces were cup-tied. Fryatt has moved on to long-term suitors Nottingham Forest.

The international class of Jelavic and Long can take the Tigers far in Europe, but is their backup up to much? Ivorian flop Yannick Sagbo and Nigerian counterpart Sone Aluko managed three Premier League goals between them. Bruce’s punt on German attacker Nick Proschwitz has also failed to pay off, hence his loan spell at relegated Championship club Barnsley.