Wed 07 Feb - Posted in Breaking News
Time to read: 3mins
‘Let’s wait for him to get that first goal.’
They were the words I said to myself just over a week ago when I first deliberated over the prospect of pulling this feature together.
Granted the game against Millwall was by no means a classic, but I sat in the press box at The Den fixated with Tom Huddlestone’s performance.
‘Let’s wait for him to get that first goal.’
I’m glad we didn’t have to wait long. Huddlestone’s opening strike in that 3-0 win over Brentford at the weekend very much felt like a long time coming.
There were some crazy statistics that came with it – some along the lines of it coming just over 14 years on from his original debut in 2003 and that it took just 125 appearances. Tom, himself, has spoken quite frequently about that first goal, right from his first interview since re-joining the club in the summer of 2017 from Hull City.
That can end now, and all the talk should be about the ingenuity he shows in the middle of the park.
I will always remember his debut during Derby’s pre-season fixture at Port Vale back in July. Huddlestone hadn’t even kicked a ball with Hull City when he joined Gary Rowett’s side and he just strolled through the game, spraying passes all over the park at his will. He did the same at Kaiserslautern four days later too.
I have seen some quality midfield players both as a supporter and during my time working for the club. From the terraces, I enjoyed watching Hossam Ghaly in the short-time he was with the club and also saw some wonderful performances from Jeff Hendrick, Will Hughes, Craig Bryson, George Thorne and John Eustace.
All of those are very different midfield players but how this guy was dictating the flow of games really caught my attention. Huddlestone is very different to anyone we have seen in recent years.
I’m quite happy to admit that the only thing that worried me when he re-signed was his mobility and how he quickly got across the pitch, but since October, how many times can you recall when it has been an issue?
His reading of the game makes up for that shortfall and then some.
The midfielder, in my opinion, got some really unfair criticism during the first three months of this season.
It’s well documented that the midfield department was a little light during this period. George Thorne and Jamie Hanson were recovering from injuries, but we must remember that Huddlestone himself was playing through the pain barrier.
He wasn’t completely effective – not like he has been in recent weeks and months at least – but he has to be commended purely for his determination to keep going and playing when no-one else could.
And now he’s just getting better and better.
In the 3-0 win at Birmingham City, he was top drawer. At Millwall, he was the best player on the pitch and the same can be said again against Brentford at the weekend.
Whether it is George Thorne or Joe Ledley alongside him, the Rams look completely assured and there’s no doubt in my mind that Derby boast one of the best midfield departments in the Championship.
‘Let’s wait for him to get that first goal.’ I’m glad I don’t have to say that any more. I’m going to be more than happy just seeing Derby’s orchestrator doing what he does best.
Words: Tom Bestwick
