After scoring on his debut, could Cardiff City’s new number nine carry the club to safety?
LOAN signing Jordan Hugill impressed on his first Cardiff City start – but fans from his previous clubs have mixed views on how he will fare for the Bluebirds.
Named in the starting XI against Nottingham Forest only two hours after signing for City, Hugill quickly introduced himself by slotting a counter-attacking goal past Brice Samba in the sixth minute.
Sunday’s game also showed a dogged defensive side to Cardiff City, led by Perry Ng – but with Kieffer Moore, City’s key goalscorer, departing for Bournemouth, could Jordan Hugill be the answer in attack?
Fans of West Bromwich Albion were left unimpressed with Hugill after he only netted one goal while on loan at the Hawthorns in the first half of the season.
Matthew Smith, host of the WBA Report podcast, said: “The primary reason that Jordan Hugill wasn’t a success at West Brom was down to the pure fact that he wasn’t good enough.
“When we signed him, everyone knew he was a bang average mid-table Championship player. The amount of missed chances went on and on. He was limited technically.
“The one thing you can’t deny Valérien Ismaël is that his team has created chances. All we needed was a decent number nine to put them away.
“Jordan Hugill, plain and simple, has failed. We were right to cancel his loan deal.”
Under Ismaël, West Brom press aggressively, aiming to provide quick, direct service to a clinical striker. At Barnsley, that man was Daryl Dike – and Ismael signed him at West Brom to take Hugill’s place, making the Cardiff deal possible.
The Baggies podcast host also predicted: “I’m presuming Morison will play Hugill as a traditional target man, and that will suit him better.
“I could see him fitting in better at Cardiff.”
But despite his poor Baggies form, Hugill is well-liked at parent club Norwich, where he was signed in 2018 as backup for Teemu Pukki and scored four goals in the Canaries’ Championship title-winning season.
After climbing from non-League Seaham Red Star, where he played at age 16, to the Football League with Port Vale, he became a cult hero at Preston North End in the Championship. He was snapped up by West Ham, where he failed to make an impression and was loaned out to Middlesbrough.
The best goalscoring campaign of his senior career, though, would come at QPR. The West London club loaned in Hugill, who lead the line with Nahki Wells. They each scored 15 goals and saved QPR from a likely relegation.
Charlie Wise, host of the Talking Rangers YouTube channel, told The Cardiffian: “Jordan Hugill is a striker with far from exceptional technical ability, but his hard graft and physical attributes make him a handful for the opposition.
“Jordan never fails to surprise you, but that’s part of the fun. Missing a two yard sitter, but finding the top corner from 20 yards, is the Hugill package.
“A striker that’s consistently inconsistent, but with the right support and backing, will leave you with a healthy goal tally come the end of the season.”
With Middlesbrough’s Uche Ikpeazu also joining City on loan on deadline day, Hugill will face competition in the striker position.
But after a busy transfer window for the Bluebirds, Hugill could help them climb the table from where they sit six points above the relegation zone.
If he can overcome the reputation that plagued him at West Brom and recapture his earlier form, Jordan Hugill could win Cardiff City fans over with his work rate and eye-catching goals.
