Head coach Ruben Selles highlighted Abu Kamara’s strength of character after the Hull winger scored two goals in the 3-3 draw at home to top-of-the-table Leeds
Kamara on Friday publicly apologised for posting “wrongly timed” emojis on former club Portsmouth’s Instagram account following the Tigers’ defeat to Middlesbrough on New Years’s Day.
But the 21-year-old put behind him a testing week with the opening goal after five minutes and a dramatic late equaliser in an unpredictable Yorkshire derby.
Selles said: “It feels like a perfect final point for what has happened in the last couple of days.
“He has quality, and you cannot doubt that. He’s an honest person and he’s been giving absolutely everything.
“Because of his body language at times, sometimes people think he’s not interested, but that’s not the reality.
“You can only be happy for him and happy for the team – and also happy because that’s the way we want to do things.
“It’s important for him and it’s important for the dressing-room and the club.”
Hull fans have been frustrated by Kamara this season, but the former Norwich playmaker finally showed his worth with a cute lob to give the hosts the lead.
Leeds were guilty of bad decision-making in the first half, but they were re-energised after the restart and equalised when Ao Tanaka brilliantly struck from the edge of the penalty area.
Few inside the MKM Stadium would have expected anything other than an away win after Dan James (62 minutes) and Joel Piroe (72) gave Leeds a 3-1 lead.
But after Joao Pedro bundled home a late second for Hull, Kamara gained further redemption with a perfect left-footed volley inside the final minute of normal time.
Selles said: “I’m very happy because it shows we can compete with anyone in the league – I’ve had that feeling since I arrived here.
“I think the way we equalised means a lot. It showed that everyone in the dressing room cares about the team.
“I think it’s always important to get points, but the way we got that point is super-important.
“We can compete with anyone, but we need to be at our maximum best.
“I don’t want anyone here that is not going to fight. We need to be ultra-competitive and to do that we need to all work really hard.
“That’s what we demand and that’s we showed against Leeds.”
Daniel Farke admitted a lack of concentration at both ends of the pitch badly cost Leeds, even though they are now unbeaten in eight games.
They remain top but have drawn their last two – at home to Blackburn and here – and will believe they should be more comfortable in their position.
He said: “‘Disappointed’ is probably the right word.
“In the first half we were not sharp enough and allowed ourselves to be two percent off it.
“We had so many good situations but didn’t finish them off. Our finishing was not spot-on and I don’t think we have conceded a cheaper (first) goal in the whole season.
“Second half, it was a great reaction. We were in total control and scored three goals and could have buried the game completely.
“Then it’s difficult to accept how we conceded two goals without them having really a chance. If you concede three goals in an away game it’s difficult to win a game.
“To drive away with just one point is heartbreaking – it’s an overwhelming feeling at the moment.”
Farke added: “It’s probably a sign of where we are – we are not yet the finished product.
“After December and the first games in January we are top of the league, but we could have an even better points tally.
“If you want to wear a Leeds United shirt there comes pressure, but the sun will shine again tomorrow and we will keep going.”
