Hull City chief opens up on Gustavo Puerta plan after high profile Bayer Leverkusen transfer

The youngster signed on an initial loan from the German champions in August

Hull City will take their time with summer signing Gustavo Puerta amid the growing clamour to see him appear in a Black and Amber shirt for the first time.

Puerta arrived in the final week of the summer transfer window from German Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen, but has so far not made an appearance on the field under Tim Walter

The Colombian’s one and only appearance in a matchday squad came at Elland Road on August 31, just days after his arrival and the 21-year-old hasn’t been seen in a Championship 18 since.

Puerta did take the field for Conor Sellars’ Under-21s last week, scoring in a win away at Coventry City, and his continued absence has generated plenty of discussion amongst supporters, perhaps understandably given the fanfare around his arrival from Xabi Alonso’s outfit.

Walter, though, says the powerful midfielder must get himself fit and bide his time in what is arguably – along with the goalkeeping unit – the most competitive area for selection in his squad, given there’s Regan Slater, Walter Zambrano, Steven Alzate, Fin Burns and Xavier Simons who can all play in that role.

“Yes, one hundred per cent (it was good for him to score against Coventry),” Walter told Hull Live. “He’s very emotional but he needs still some time. He’s one of our players, and he has a very high potential, but he has to wait because for two positions, we have just two starting situations (lots of competition).

“He has to wait for the chance and try to prove in the training sessions that he can play, but I’m happy with him. He has good quality but he has to take the chance if he gets the chance.”