Steve Bruce has praised third-choice Hull City goalkeeper Eldin Jakupovic for his performance in Saturday's 0-0 draw away to Liverpool.
Injuries to Steve Harper and Allan McGregor forced Jakupovic into the reckoning, but the 30-year-old acquitted himself well and earned a clean sheet at Anfield.
Jakupovic was Bruce's first signing as Tigers boss two years ago after recruiting him from Greek outfit Thessaloniki, and the Hull boss believes that he has come a long way since then.
"I would genuinely expect him to make those saves and I think he would too but to be fair to the kid, he's waited a long time and it's not easy being third-choice goalkeeper," Bruce told reporters.
"To be fair to him, he is an experienced goalkeeper who just needed to get used to playing in England. Fair play to him, he's waited a long time and I'm sure he'll remember that - that he kept a clean sheet at Anfield.
"No disrespect to playing in Greece, where he was, but it's a different ball game and he found it difficult physically. The corners rained in by Steven Gerrard today - he stood up to the task, whereas 18 months ago he would have found that a struggle."
Jakupovic, a one-time Switzerland international, spent last season on loan with League One side Leyton Orient.
Shane Callaghan
