Sunderland vs Hull City - Moyes stands by decision to dispense with Mike Phelan

Posted Saturday, November 19, 2016 by PA

David Moyes will renew acquaintances with Mike Phelan on Saturday insisting he only did what his Manchester United successors Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho have done since.

One of Moyes' first decisions on replacing Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford during the summer of 2013 was to dispense with the services of assistant manager Phelan.

However, Moyes is adamant all he did was make room for his own staff after inheriting his predecessor's for what proved to be a brief and ill-fated spell at United.

The Sunderland boss said: "It was tough because I understand how important [Phelan had been] and the good work he had done. But I also had to make a decision.

"I went with my own team, just like maybe Louis van Gaal went with his team or Jose Mourinho took his team. They were the decisions you had to make and I made that decision.

"But Mick's a good guy. I have known Mick a long time."

The two men will be in direct competition as Phelan's Hull make the short trip to the Stadium of Light on Saturday to face Moyes' Black Cats, who are desperate to build upon their first Premier League win of the season last time out at Bournemouth.

There was a rare three points too for the Tigers that weekend, but the teams meet occupying 20th and 18th places in the table with Hull's promising start despite Steve Bruce's departure as manager having given way to significant difficulty.

Moyes said: "At the start, you have to to say Hull looked as if they were in a difficult position, but sometimes adversity is the best thing that can happen.

"Steve leaves, Mick takes over, not many players and they have done great. They picked up some brilliant results at the start of the season and they had another great result last weekend, so he's done a good job, Mick. He's done well."

Phelan says he holds no grudges as his side aim to climb eight points clear of bottom club Sunderland.

"I've no point to prove," Phelan said. "I had a fantastic career at Manchester United as a player, assistant manager and as a coach.

"It's not for me to hold any grudges or anything like that. I was privileged and certainly enjoyed my 18 years there overall, which is more than most people get, especially in the game these days.

"I'm in a fortunate position. I enjoyed my time, but my time now is here and to try and bring a lot of that expertise that was in abundance at Manchester United to a club like Hull. That's what we're trying to do."

Phelan's team will bid for back-to-back league wins for the first time since the opening two games of the season without three first-choice strikers.

Will Keane has been ruled out for the season with cruciate knee ligament damage, Abel Hernandez is nursing a groin problem and Adama Diomande sits out the final game of a three-game ban.

Democratic Republic of Congo international Dieumerci Mbokani is the only senior striker available to Phelan, who must decide whether to hand teenager Jarrod Bowen his first league start for the club or ask Robert Snodgrass or Ryan Mason to play in a forward role.