Hull’s Altidore marvels at quality of Premier League

Hull City striker Jozy Altidore is still coming to terms with the intensity of the English Premier League.

The 19-year old American international is on loan with the Tigers and is revelling in his time there although he admits the league is an enormous challenge.

"I just think the league has an intensity about it and has a way about it that there's no other way to play in the league,” Altidore said.

“You have to play at a high intensity or you're going to be punished.

"I played my first game, and just the energy, it was electrifying. . . . I think the players kind of feed off it and find a kind of second or third wind.

"The smallest guy on the field will head-butt you. . . . It's just gritty and just different. . . . They're not naive players.”

Altidore added that the fans in Hull were different to what he is used to.

"There'll be fans walking by you in the city when you're with a friend and you're not even thinking about it and, 'Hey, you better win on Saturday!'

“It just shows you, it's a different type of responsibility.”