Premier League players you didn't realise would be at the World Cup: Hull City

Group C / Jaymes Monte / 02 May 2010 / Leave a comment Free £25 Bet

Jozy Altidore uses his physical strength to hold off the Fulham defence earlier this season.

Okay, so Hull aren't Premier League anymore, but you can be sure that their players will be using the World Cup as a stage to showcase their talent and help secure a move away from Humberside...

"Altidore became the youngest American to score a hat-trick for the senior side when netting all three in the U.S.A.’s 3-0 win over Trinidad & Tobago in April 2009 and then also scored the opener in their 2-0 Confederations Cup win over Spain last summer."

Jozy Altidore - U.S.A.

On loan from Villarreal, Jozy Altidore is very much earmarked as 'one for the future' by the Spanish side. His loan stint at Hull this season may not have been the most fruitful in terms of goals and results but the hustle and bustle of the Premier League is sure to have been a worthwhile experience for the American youngster.

Altidore's short international career has been a glittering one to date. Having been capped at Under-17, Under-20 and Under-23 level he then became the youngest American to score a hat-trick for the senior side when netting all three in the U.S.A.'s 3-0 win over Trinidad & Tobago in April 2009 and then also scored the opener in their 2-0 Confederations Cup win over Spain last summer.

His strengths lie in his physical presence combined with his athleticism, speed and power. And the fact that he is still 20 years of age and has already achieved so much at International level there is a huge scope for improvement; the U.S will hope that his true coming of age will be at this summer's World Cup in South Africa.

Seyi Olofinjana - Nigeria

Seyi Olofinjana was born in Lagos, Nigeria in June 1980 and began his career in his native land playing for Kwara United. From there he moved to SK Brann in Norway then after playing every game for Nigeria in the 2004 African Cup of Nations he was picked up by Wolverhampton Wanderers who were then playing in The Championship.

After making over one hundred appearances for the Black Country club he decided to move on after the team missed out on a play-off place in the 2007-08 season. Stoke manager Tony Pullis parted with £3million to take him to The Britannia, but he only lasted a season there before moving on to the KC Stadium for the same transfer fee, after a move to Monaco broke down.

Olofinjana showed his goal scoring credentials when finishing as Wolves' top goalscorer in the 2006-07 season, but never really built on that and now plays his football for both club and country in a more defensive roll.

Nigeria have been drawn in Group B at this summer's World Cup alongside Argentina, Greece and South Korea, and are available to back at odds of [2.1] to qualify for the last 16. However, their slim chances of going all the way are reflected in their [180.0] price tag in the outright winners market.