KYLE Hudlin used to look up to Peter Crouch but the giant Newport County AFC striker intends to outgrow the stereotypes that come with being a big man up top.
The 24-year-old West Midlander has made a promising start to life at Rodney Parade after arriving on loan from Huddersfield on deadline day.
The 6ft 9ins forward scored his first League Two goal with a header from a corner to set the Exiles on their way to victory against Salford and then nodded in powerfully to level at Bradford City.
Last week Hudlin showed that there is another dimension to his game with a deft touch in the box, pivot and low drive into the bottom left corner to score the second in County’s 2-0 win at Gillingham.
“With the first two goals, everyone sees my height and just expects that so I was really eager to score one with my feet to make sure everyone knows I can play football as well,” said Hudlin.
“I want to show that I’m not just a big man and I am tidy with my feet. I want more opportunities to showcase my ability with the technical side of the game.”
County were guilty of going a little too direct in their 0-0 draw against Fleetwood last weekend and that is perhaps understandable given the striker’s frame.
Hudlin himself looked up to a rangy front man who had to show that there was more to his game than flick-ons and knock downs.
“When I was younger I had the obvious inspiration of Peter Crouch but you look past that and have R9 [the Brazilian Ronaldo], Drogba,” said Hudlin. “Now I take inspiration from my son and family, and how proud they are and how they are behind me.”
“It’s natural for fans to look at my size,” he said. “Everyone else before me [who have been tall] has been so much of an old-fashioned centre-forward, holding it up with a little man running off them.
“I feel that the game is now more advanced and you have to be a complete forward who is able to do more sides to the game. I really try to work on every aspect.”
At 6ft 9ins, Hudlin has predictably played basketball in the past but it’s boxing that is his passion with his off-seasons spent in the ring.
With a passion for more than football, the striker was studying sports fitness and psychology at University College Birmingham when he started to catch the eye with Solihull Moors.
His exploits earned a move to Huddersfield and the Terriers previously sent him out on loan to AFC Wimbledon and Burton.
Hudlin, who is contracted until 2026 with the League One promotion hopefuls, is having a bigger impact at Rodney Parade and is keen to keep developing.
“The main is just keeping head down, working hard and the goals will come,” said the striker, who is open to staying beyond the initial loan to January.
“If you do the non-negotiables then everything should fall into place. I am really enjoying it at the moment. I have showed my ability.”
The graduate also believes that the inexperience in Nelson Jardim’s squad ensure it is a healthy learning environment.
“Everyone is on the same wavelength,” he said. “You have experienced boys such as Aaron Wildig, James Clarke etcetera that the younger ones feed off but then you have that energy of youth.
“Everybody is so hungry to go out and achieve something; there will be ups and downs throughout any season, no matter the age of the squad.
“Everybody’s individual game is developing loads and it’s about learning on the job, making sure that you are progressing every game and training session.”
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