Hull City To Take On Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool!

When Dean Windass fired Hull City in front in the playoff final at Wembley, there was just one thing going through my mind, what a Hero!

The 39 year old journeyman striker is currently enjoying his second spell with his home town club but I doubt when he made his debut for the club back in 1991 that he ever thought he'd score the goal to send his beloved Tigers into England's top flight for the very first time.

But 17 years on Hull City are to enter their first season in the English Premier League and the Hull hero is well and truly, the legendary Dean Windass.

He is a player whose career I have kept an eye on over the years since his successful spell north of the border with Aberdeen between 1995 and 1998.

The powerful forward has a knack of scoring important goals and he surely notched "the" goal of his career last Saturday at Wembley.

Windass doesn't really have a reputation for being Mr nice guy however and was once shown three red cards in a single game for Aberdeen. Firstly he was sent off after collecting two yellows. He was sent off again for verbally abusing the referee before seeing another for taking out his anger on a corner flag!

The timely goal for his hometown club for me draws comparisons with Alan Shearer and I can't help but wish Shearer was still leading the Newcastle line! He is after all younger than Dean Windass...

Hull City finished third in the Championship and beat fourth placed Bristol City 1-0 in the play off final but do they have any chance of surviving on England's greatest stage?

The 25,000 KC (Kingston Communications) Stadium will welcome the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool next season and the Tigers will face an uphill struggle.

They do though have a few players that will be instantly recognizable to EPL fans. Windass shares his veteran status with Nicky Barmby (34) and Jay-Jay Okocha (34, though many believe his age is much closer to his squad number, 44)). Both of whom have been top EPL players in their time.

Other players returning to the EPL are former Charlton Athletic star Bryan Hughes (31) and Henrick Pederson (32) who enjoyed cult status at Bolton Wanderers along with team mate Okocha.

Hull are desperate to keep hold of young striker Fraizer Campbell (20) who is on Man United's books. He scored 15 this goals this term and was instrumental in the promotion push.

Others to look out for include American keeper Boaz Myhill (25), who was once on the books at Aston Villa as well as defenders Michael Turner (24), the experienced Wayne Brown (30) and Welsh international Samuel Ricketts (26).

In midfield, 31 year old Ian Ashbee and former Tottenham Hotspur player, Dean Marney (24) will be out to impress!

Up front, Australian Richard Garcia (26) adds much needed cover for the kid Campbell and the veteran Windass.

Hull City, like Stoke City will have to spend well and fight hard to remain in the EPL but don't be too surprised if one of these sides is the new Wigan Athletic or is it the new Reading?