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Getty ImagesHull City winger Mohamed Belloumi’s introduction to his side’s second leg of their Championship semi-final at Milwall was not exactly ideal.
Sent on by boss Sergej Jakirovic just before half-time because of an injury to Kyle Joseph the Algerian left his irate gaffer and his team-mates waiting while he tied his boot laces.
Jakirovic did not hide his displeasure.
Fifty minutes, one goal and one assist later and all was well and truly forgiven.
“Mo’s brilliant. He can be whatever he wants to be,” striker Oli McBurnie told Sky Sports.
“He was probably unlucky not to start but the gaffer obviously knew what he was doing because they both [along with Joe Gelhardt] came on and scored.”
The 23-year-old was undoubtedly the Tigers’ star man as they set up a play-off final with either Southampton or Middlesbrough on Saturday, 23 May for a place in the Premier League.
His superb curling strike ended a two-and-a-half-hour wait for a goal in the semi-final and he then won the ball back in his own half and drove forward before teeing up Gelhardt, who had come on moments before, to score the second.
‘Now I am very smart, if they do nothing I am stupid’
It has not been a straightforward two seasons in English football for the forward.
He joined the East Yorkshire club from Portuguese outfit Farense in August 2024 and enjoyed a decent start only for an anterior cruciate ligament injury at Oxford in November to end his season.
By the time he returned to action last August the club had sacked both Tim Walter and his replacement Ruben Selles and brought in Jakirovic.
Understandably after such a serious injury it took him time to get back up to speed and two hamstring injuries have kept him out for four months of this campaign.
He started Friday’s goalless first leg and hit the post after just two minutes but Jakirovic said he began Monday’s game on the bench as he had not been able to train since.
“He was very tired and had fatigue in both his hamstrings and Achilles so the plan was to give him the second half,” Jakirovic told BBC Radio Humberside.
“It was a great substitution and a great decision. Now I am very smart, if they do nothing I am stupid. It’s always like this.
“This group of players is unbelievable with the chemistry between them.”
Skipper Lewie Coyle was also full of praise for the match-winner and the club’s medical staff.
“He’s incredible. We are so lucky that we’ve got so many players that can come on and impact the game,” he said.
“We all know what that boy’s about. I’m so pleased for him.
“He’s had an incredibly tough injury but it says a lot about him and the recovery team that he’s come back as he has.”
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‘Maybe the biggest achievement of my career’
Jakirovic’s first season managing in England will end at Wembley after a brilliant campaign in tough circumstances.
The club were given a three-window transfer fee restriction in July, later reduced to two with one suspended after an appeal against the ruling, for making late payments to other clubs.
The former Bosnia international is now 90 minutes from becoming the third manager, after Phil Brown and Steve Bruce, to lead the club into the top flight of English football.
Despite having won the league title in both Bosnia and Croatia and managed in the Champions League, he said reaching the play-off final was a standout moment.
“This is maybe the biggest achievement in my life, my football career,” he said.
“OK, I won some titles and I had until now a successful career but in these circumstances to get the final… I’m very proud of everyone here in the club.”
