HOILETT IS RARE VINTAGE INSISTS HIS BOSS
JUNIOR Hoilett is maturing like a fine wine since being brought in from the cold, according to Cardiff boss Neil Warnock.
Exiled to training with the Under-18s, the 27-yearold Canadian international was languishing at the end of his ill-fated time at QPR.
Warnock first noticed him during his brief stint as caretaker in 2015.
Hoilett became Warnock’s first signing for Cardiff when he took over in October 2016, and he believes the winger has gone from strength to strength ever since.
He said: “He’s underrated, one of those that is a first name on the team sheet.
“He’s someone who’s matured and developed into a far better player than he’s ever been. I think it’s his best season personally.
“He’s like a nice maturing bottle of wine – a bit tatty at first but then it gradually gets smoother. And then you get to the le crème of wine and you think: ‘wow’.”
Meanwhile, Warnock has promised Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp that Marko Grujic will return to Merseyside a tougher player.
The Serbian international midfielder joined the Bluebirds in January, with the youngster keen to get game time ahead of the World Cup.
Klopp was also keen for Grujic to develop at the Cardiff City Stadium, and Warnock believes the physical demands of the Championship are already having a positive effect on the 21-year-old.
Warnock said: “I think it’s toughened him up being with us. When he first came into training, he left a little bit to be desired.
“But you soon get into it with us. When you train as hard as we do, you want to be like that.
“I think it’s improved his game. The minimum requirement is effort because, when you have ability like he has, it comes through on top.”