KYLE Hudlin used to look up to Peter Crouch but the giant 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 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 inspirati.