Experienced defender Fathy has found it difficult in England Egyptian right-back Ahmed Fathy has aired his frustration at the lack of first team opportunities at Championship club Hull City. In an interview with British newspaper The Independent, Fathy said he cannot explain why he continues to sit on the bench at the KC Stadium, despite working hard in training.
"I train very hard; I play for the reserves, but I stay on the bench. I don't know why," he said.
The 28-year-old, who joined Hull City on a six-month loan deal during the January transfer window alongside countryman Mohamed Nagy Gedo, has struggled to break into the Hull team, and feels he may have made a mistake in leaving Egypt.
"The manager in Egypt [Ahly's Hossam el-Badry] told me before I came here, 'don't go please – the league will start again and I need you'. However, I made my choice and came here, but that's football for you," he explained.
Fathy's Egyptian teammate Gedo has settled in well, having scored five goals in nine games, and Fathy is not surprised at the forward's form.
"I'm not surprised about Gedo. I know he's a very good player – physical, fast, and when he has a chance, he scores. At Ahly, he had many more chances. Here, I told him, 'there will not be so many chances, so if you have a chance, you must score' – and he has," he added.
Hull City is owned by Egyptian-born businessman Assem Allam.