HOGAN’S THE NEW HERO IN VARDY’S MOULD
SCOTT HOGAN spent most of the summer scornfully dismissing reported interest from Leicester City.
“Stupid,” said the 24year-old Brentford striker. “People just need to fill pages. There are three things true about those newspapers – the title, date and price.”
After 13 goals in 16 games for the Bees and a hat-trick in last week’s 3-0 win over Preston, those rumours don’t look so stupid any more.
It’s no secret that scouts across the land have been tasked with unearthing the next Jamie Vardy. Hogan will top every list.
It isn’t just that he played Non-League, as Vardy did before blossoming into a superstar. It’s a grounding in parks football, free from the shackles of professional coaching.
Like Vardy, Hogan played for fun first and work second. “I had Scott as an apprentice at Rochdale and it just didn’t suit him at the time,” said Dale boss Keith Hill.
“He wanted to spend time with his mates, enjoy being a young lad and play football as a hobby. That’s why he dipped into Non-League. It was only later that he realised what an exceptional talent he had and came back to us.”
But for two serious knee injuries, Hogan – who joined Brentford from Rochdale for £750,000 in 2014 – would already be in the Premier League. As Hill recalls, he has an uncoachable instinct for scoring.
One thing’s for sure: nobody will get him for £1m, like Vardy.