Hull City boss weighs in on Wayne Rooney future after Birmingham City blunder

Hull City head coach Liam Rosenior has come to the defence of Wayne Rooney after the new Birmingham City boss received a hostile welcome on his St Andrew’s Stadium debut. A former colleague of Rooney’s from the pair’s time together at Derby County, Rosenior has urged Blues fans to be patient.

An audacious, front-footed approach has been implemented by Rooney early doors and the frailties have shone through due to a lack of adaptation from the squad. Hull and Middlesbrough have both eased to victories as a result of Birmingham being so exposed on the transition.

But Rosenior claims the tactics will work eventually, even if they feel flawed at the moment. “I would be excited if I was a Birmingham fan and Wayne Rooney walked in. Why? Because I worked with him for a long period of time,” Rosenior said during Wednesday’s post-match press conference.

“I know his qualities as a manager and a coach. It takes time. It’s interesting – I’ve been really fortunate. My players understand the positions they’re in. I’m the 12th longest-serving [manager] in the Championship and I’ve only been in the job a year!

“I know that this football club is trying to build something. When you’re trying to be brave, once you iron out the mistakes, which happened in my first period here at Hull, you see the benefits. I would ask – because I know Wayne – that you need to give him time. I’m sure he’ll get things right here,” Rosenior said.

The same optimism certainly hasn’t been felt across much of the Birmingham fan base as Rooney has overseen two straight defeats without a single goal. Time will tell, though, as it can often take many months for the rewards to be reaped from drastic changes to tactics.