Steve Bruce backs 'Rolls-Royce' Mohamed Diame to boost Hull's Premier League survival

MOHAMED DIAME is back to provide the driving force behind Hull's bid for Premier League survival after being described by Steve Bruce as a 'Rolls-Royce' player.

Steve Bruce Mo DiameGETTY

Steve Bruce admits he was impressed the moment Mohamed Diame stepped through the door at Hull

The Senegal midfielder is set to make his first appearance for four months after suffering a knee injury before Christmas.

Wales defender James Chester is also in line for a return today (SAT) at Swansea after two-and-a-half months out with a dislocated shoulder, and Bruce said: "No matter how you try and flannel it up, we've been without some of our big players for too long and it has been a struggle.

"Being without Mohamed for four months, James for two months and Robert Snodgrass all season, they've left big holes in our squad."

Diame, 27, scored four goals in his first five games after a £3.5million move from West Ham in September and Bruce added: "If he can come back at anywhere near the level he was at, it will make a big difference.

"Let's face it, he's a top player. He could go and play anywhere in the Premier League. I was with Kenny Dalglish recently and he told me that he was very close to taking him to Liverpool when he was manager there and Diame was out of contract with Wigan.

We d be delighted to do as well as Swansea - Bruce [AMBIENT]

He looks like a Rolls-Royce. He's come in and you've gone 'wow, what's that?

Steve Bruce

"He looks like a Rolls-Royce. He's come in and you've gone 'wow, what's that?' The kid's a top player and we've missed him."

Another player to be fawned over by his manager is Swansea's Ashley Williams, who Garry Monk has called a footballing "robot".

Skipper Williams has played every minute of every Premier League game this season and even played twice last weekend after travelling back from Wales' win in Israel to feature in Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher's all-star match at Anfield.

"It's difficult to get Ash to take it easy. He wants to be out there all the time," said Monk. "He is so consistent, he is just like a robot. You try and back him down a bit but he just wants to do more."

And Monk believes, regardless of the result at the Liberty Stadium, Bruce is the right man at Hull.

"I think Hull will stay up," said Monk. "They have enough quality in that squad," he said.

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