Phelan looking on the bright side

Hull City manager Mike Phelan says avoiding relegation is "far from an impossible task" for the Premier League's basement club.

The Tigers have managed just three victories in 18 Premier League matches since Phelan replaced Steve Bruce in the KCOM Stadium hotseat last summer, but the 54-year-old is looking on the bright side ahead of Friday's home match against Everton.

"Of course, all managers are under pressure to get results, but I don’t feel any extra pressure because of the run of results we’re on," he said.

"I feel for my players because they are putting in the performances that deserve better results than we are getting, and I feel for the fans and the people who run the club because I know how badly they want us to stay in this division.

"All I can do is assure them that me, my staff and the squad are putting in a lot of hard work to try to make sure we stay up."

Only three clubs have escaped relegation after being bottom of the Premier League at Christmas, but a first win in eight matches at the KCOM would see the Tigers move off the basement and above Swansea and Sunderland in the table.

"The Everton games marks the halfway point in the season. We know we need to improve because we didn’t pick up enough points in the first-half of the campaign," Phelan continued.

“We face an uphill task, but it’s far from being an impossible one. We shall keep going, and keep our focus and, if we do that, we shall make progress.”

Phelan says he has been in talks with Arsenal about signing right-back Carl Jenkinson on loan for the rest of the season.

"I have spoken to Arsene Wenger about Carl, and I’m encouraged by the conversation we have had," he said.

"But I do also realise that there are other clubs interested in Carl. So that's where we're at at the moment and nothing definite has gone ahead and there are others."

Photo (Getty Images/ Jordan Mansfield)

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