Jewell: Town Face Competition for Bullard
Monday, 9th May 2011 08:16

Town boss Paul Jewell says the Blues face competition from a number of clubs, including sides in the Premier League, for the signature of loan midfielder Jimmy Bullard. The Hull City man missed Saturday’s game at Leicester with a knee injury.

Jewell said: “I spoke with [Hull director of football operations] Adam Pearson last week about trying to do something, but I think there are a few clubs in for Jimmy, maybe Premier League teams. But we certainly want to be in there fighting, trying to do it.

“His knee flared up after training on Thursday, so with his history of knee problems he wasn’t going to play [at Leicester]. If Jimmy can play, he plays, but he just wasn’t fit.”

The Blues missed Bullard in midfield and were 3-0 down by half-time, although Jewell says his side could and should have scored before they went behind, again showing their lack of a cutting edge: “In the second half I think they had one attack but scored from it. OK, they took their foot off the gas a little bit at 3-0 up, but we had a golden opportunity in the first five minutes when Chuck’s gone through. Their keeper makes a save and Jason Scotland’s got a gilt-edged chance.

“There’s just no one who is going to take the gamble that they can score the goal. We haven’t got that nasty, horrible goalscorer in the club and we’ve got to get that in.

“As well as getting that in we’ve got to get some steel and some pace in the rest of the team. We’ve got some good players here, but too many times I’ve said the same thing — when it gets a little bit tough, we’re not mentally and physical tough enough and it’s my job from now to next season to make that right.”

Jewell says Town are in a similar situation to the one he found when he took over at Derby where he feels he tried to change things around too quickly, an experience he believes will benefit him: “I hope I’ve learnt from my time at Derby.

“When I came in I was looking at a relegation fight and I see a lot of similarities in the clubs. They’re great football clubs both of them, with great facilities and high expectations.

“But both of them, as well as having some decent players, there’s been a bit soft side to them which has been exploited.

“However, these lads have given me everything they’ve got. These lads as a group won’t take us forward but they have done great to get keep us where we are.

“We’ve got to add to that group five or six players to give the lads who are going to be here next season help and hopefully a decent promotion campaign.

“It’s going to be difficult, but I’m sure if we get the players that we’ve identified, we’ll be a lot, lot stronger and a lot better.

“There’s more than five or six players we’ve got in mind because you’re not going to get all your targets. I think it’s important to get lots of options. If we can get the players we’re trying to get, I’ll be pleased.”

Photo: Action Images

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