HUGILL IS FED SCRAPS AFTER EARLY FEAST
IT took Jordan Hugill just seven minutes to head home the sort of cross he loves. He probably spent the next 65 wondering if he will ever get another.
Such is life for Norwich’s No. 9, who added to Kenny Mclean’s sixth- minute opener from the Canaries’ next attack.
Hugill ( above, celebrating with Mclean) arrived in August knowing Teemu Pukki is the top striker round these parts.
Hugill’s appeal to manager Daniel Farke was that he offered something different to the Finn, the master of the run behind an opposition defence.
But going direct to a player like Hugill just does not seem to be in the Canaries’ DNA. Przemyslaw Placheta put a perfect delivery to the near post for his goal but he was hunting for scraps thereafter.
Farke hailed Hugill, afforded just 22 minutes of Premier League action by West Ham in 2018 despite a £ 10million outlay, as the ultimate squad man.
He said: “He totally deserves it because he is a great lad and a great team- mate. He thinks more about the team than about himself. Even when he’s not involved he is there for the group.”
Pukki came on for the final 18 minutes and hit a post in a game that saw Coventry fail to beat rookie goalkeeper Daniel Barden.
The 20- year- old, in because Tim Krul has Covid, made some competent stops, mostly to foil Max Biamou.
Coventry defender Leo
Ostigard, on loan from Brighton, must also be wondering what the future holds. The Norwegian, 21, had Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as his boss and Erling Haaland as a team- mate at Molde but has yet to play for the Seagulls. Ostigard regularly speaks to Albion and said: “I think they’re pleased.” NORWICH: Barden 8, Mumba 6 ( Aarons 62, 6), Zimmermann 6 ( Hanley 46, 6), Gibson 6, Quintilla 6, Sorensen 6 ( Skipp 88), Tettey 6, Cantwell 7 ( Buendia 72), Mclean 7, Placheta 7, Hugill 7 ( Pukki 72). COVENTRY: Wilson 6, Ostigard 6, Mcfadzean 6, Hyam 6, Da Costa 6, Hamer 6 ( Bapaga 79), Sheaf 6 ( James 68, 5), Giles 6, O’hare 6, Shipley 6 ( Eccles 79), Biamou 7 ( Bakayoko 68, 5).
REFEREE: Darren Drysdale
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