Grant McCann has backed George Honeyman to show the best of himself at Hull City in time, having struggled to make his mark so far.
The Sunderland academy graduate and former club captain left the Black Cats for Championship side Hull in the summer, in a deal thought to be worth around £400,000.
And although he's made 16 appearances for the Tigers this term, Honeyman has struggled to cement a regular place in the side, with just 17 appearances in all competitions, but only nine of those starts. He's yet to score and has just one assist.
He was an unused sub in the weekend's victory over Stoke City, having been hooked at half time by McCann the week before with Hull 1-0 down to Barnsley.
But McCann is backing Honeyman to eventually succeed, saying he needs time to settle at the club having got so used to life at Sunderland.
“George is a good boy,” McCann said. “He’s been a captain and he’s a leader. You only have to look at what he did for Sunderland over the last two years. He’ll take it in his stride.
“We’ve had a good long chat and George is enjoying his time here.
“Yes, it’s a little bit stop-start for him but I’ve no doubt that once he gets a run in the team, which I’m sure is very close, then the Hull City fans will see the best of him.
“In terms of what we did at Barnsley, it wasn’t to do with George’s performance. That could’ve been anyone who came off at half-time. It was more about how the game was going and the way we’d set up. That wasn’t working.
“It’s maybe been a bit stop-start with George. I had a good chat with him on Thursday morning and just asked him how he is and how he’s settled.
“The first month or two, searching for a new home, people don’t realise that it’s never easy living in hotels all the time. Especially for someone like George, who’s been at Sunderland from such a young age.
“I think initially he thought he was coming on loan and that was the reality that he wasn’t at Sunderland anymore. He’s getting there now.”
