After a shambolic pre-season, Hull implausibly won their opening two games but the question is can this thin squad and their inexperienced leader keep it going?

The good news for Mike Phelan is that, following Harry Maguire’s return to fitness, he now has 14 fit senior professionals from which to select a starting XI. The bad news is that Hull City have still to sign a first-team player this summer and making it three league wins out of three will be tested by José Mourinho’s Manchester United on Saturday evening.

It is sure to be an evocative occasion for Hull’s caretaker-manager, who spent almost 20 years as a player, coach and, finally, Sir Alex Ferguson’s assistant at Old Trafford, and Steve Bruce’s successor knows his chances of securing the job on a permanent basis have been enhanced by impressive wins at home to Leicester City and away at Swansea, but he is desperate to strengthen a ridiculously small squad.

A Chinese consortium – led by a sister-and-brother team Hawken Xiu Li and Dai Yongge – is in the process of trying to take over from the Allam family and the Premier League is considering whether it meets the fit and proper persons test. This may take several weeks. Meanwhile the purse strings appear tight and Phelan, who says Hull remain “34 points short of safety”, is frustrated. “It’s the same old, same old,” says a coach who, ideally, wants six recruits - preferably including the Spurs midfielder Ryan Mason - by Wednesday evening. “Nobody has yet come into the building. We haven’t signed any new players. We’re in talks with two or three but nothing has been delivered.

“I’ve spoken to who might potentially be the new owners. But not about my future, just where they are at the moment. Everything’s with the Premier League. They’re going through their paperwork and we’ll see where it takes us.” For now Phelan has to plot another win, against his former club, with a group of players clearly energised by having their backs to the wall.

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Mike Phelan Caretaker manager

He would like to have the caretaker element of his current job title removed before his 54th birthday next month. The Lancastrian former right-back or midfielder – and holder of one England cap – played for Burnley, Norwich, Manchester United and West Bromwich before carving out a coaching career at Norwich, Blackpool, Stockport, United and Norwich again before becoming Steve Bruce’s No2 in 2015.

Eldin Jakupovic Goalkeeper

The Bosnia-born goalkeeper with one cap for Switzerland is playing because of an injury to Allan McGregor. Played for, among others, Grasshopper Lokomotiv Moscow, Olympiakos Volou and Aris before joining Hull in 2012. Has since had a loan stint at Leyton Orient.

Dusan Kuciak Goalkeeper

Hull’s only signing in 2016, the 6ft 4in Slovakia goalkeeper arrived from Legia Warsaw for £250,000 in February. Capped 10 times, the 31-year-old played in Romania and Poland before catching Bruce’s eye. Still to make his debut for Hull.

Ahmed Elmohamady Right-back

Elmo, as he is almost universally known, is a star in Egypt and has been capped 71 times. The popular defender is deputising for the injured Moses Odubajo but can also operate as a wing-back or winger. The 28-year-old also played for Sunderland and joined Hull, initially on loan, in 2012.

Jake Livermore Centre-back

Signed from Tottenham in 2014 and, with Michael Dawson injured, has impressed as an emergency centre-half. The 26-year-old tested positive for cocaine in April 2015 but a ban was dropped when the FA decided he had taken the drug to cope with the grief of losing a newborn baby. Played in midfield for his one England cap.

Curtis Davies Centre-back

Hull’s intelligent, articulate 31-year-old has emerged as a galvanising force and leader during a summer of turmoil. The London-born centre-half has been on Humberside since 2013, his career having taken him to Luton, West Bromwich Albion, Aston Villa and Birmingham City. Will captain the team until Dawson returns from injury.

Harry Maguire Centre-back

The 6ft 2in centre half, 23, started the season sidelined by an ankle injury but is in contention to make his first Premier League appearance of the campaign at home to Manchester United. Wanted by Middlesbrough – where Aitor Karanka remains a big admirer – this summer, Maguire’s return to health has given Phelan his first real selection dilemma. An England Under-21 international, he began his career in his hometown with Sheffield United, but joined Hull two years ago.

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Andrew Robertson Left-back

The very attack-minded 22-year-old swapped Dundee United for Hull in 2014. A Glaswegian, he has been capped 10 times by Scotland. Much admired by Jürgen Klopp, Robertson is of interest to Liverpool and Hull fans dread losing him in the transfer window.

Tom Huddlestone Midfielder

A powerful 6ft 3in midfielder with more than a touch of Glenn Hoddle about some of his long passes, Huddlestone played for Derby and Tottenham before Steve Bruce lured him north in 2013. When Huddlestone – capped four times by England – plays well, so do Hull. A key individual capable of dictating play.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Tom Huddlestone celebrates Hull’s first goal against Leicester City. Photograph: Russell Cheyne/Reuters

Sam Clucas Midfielder

After being discarded by Lincoln City as a teenager, Clucas’s career was kickstarted when he joined the Glenn Hoddle academy in Spain and turned out for Jerez Industrial. He moved to Hereford United before playing for Mansfield, Chesterfield and Hull, as the midfielder played in the Conference, League Two, League One, the Championship and the Premier League in five successive seasons from 2012-13. Mainly left-sided, the 25-year-old is shining in an unfamiliar anchoring role and has recently signed a three-year deal. Would probably be on the bench had Mohamed Diamé not moved to Newcastle.

David Meyler Midfielder

Versatile and combative, the midfielder was spotted playing for Cork City by Roy Keane, then Sunderland’s manager, and brought to Wearside in 2008. Four years later – and after overcoming two long-term, potentially career-ending knee injuries – Bruce took him to Hull, initially on loan. Now 27 and with 16 Republic of Ireland caps, he had an infamous “coming together” with Alan Pardew, Newcastle’s manager at the time, in 2014.

Shaun Maloney Midfielder

Born in Sarawak, Malaysia, the attacking midfielder, who is 33, has 47 Scotland caps. Played for Celtic, Aston Villa, Wigan and Chicago Fire before joining Hull a year ago. Made 20 Championship appearances last season.

Robert Snodgrass Forward

A gifted 28-year-old winger, Snodgrass turned down the chance to join Barcelona while a youngster at Livingston. He later joined Leeds and then Norwich before a £7m move to Hull in 2014. A serious knee injury swiftly followed, which sidelined a player now capped 17 times by Scotland, for 16 months. Returned in time to help Hull secure promotion in 2016 and is now central to their survival hopes.

Abel Hernández Forward

A 6ft 1in striker capped 27 times by Uruguay, Hernández became Hull’s record £10m signing when Steve Bruce bought him from Palermo in 2014. Scored 20 goals in 39 Championship games last season. On record as saying he dreams of one day playing for Real Madrid, Atlético Madrid or Newcastle United. Worryingly for Hull fans, Rafael Benítez is said to be an admirer.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Abel Hernández battles for possession with Leicester’s Wes Morgan. Photograph: Alex Morton/Getty Images

Adama Diomandé Forward

Born in Oslo to Ivorian parents, the striker has been capped five times by Norway. Now 26, Diomandé played in his home country and for one club in Belarus before ending up at Hull last year. Injury restricted him to 11 Championship appearances, in which he scored three goals.

All 14 players were signed by Steve Bruce, who resigned as Hull’s manager last month