Tom Huddlestone looked an excellent signing for Derby County when he arrived from Hull City for £2m in the summer.
Tom Huddlestone may have around 300 Premier League appearances to his name, not to mention four caps for England, but the languorous playmaker has struggled to even look Championship quality at times for Derby County.
The 30-year-old’s metronymic performances in midfield had helped The Tigers win promotion to the top flight in 2016 and Derby would have hoped that he could have a similar impact in the East Midlands.
Huddlestone has not quite lived up to expectations, however, although his form in the last few weeks has been much improved. And Derby boss Gary Rowett has made clear that he expected a little more from a player of Huddlestone’s reputation.
“I don’t think we have seen the best of Tom Huddlestone, yet,” Rowett said in quotes reported by the Derby Telegraph.
Derby fans will argue that this is an understatement. Huddlestone appears to be in that strange position of being better suited to the Premier League than the division below.
The former Spurs star is renowned for his languid style, strolling around the pitch like it’s a park on a Sunday morning. Such an approach doesn’t tend to translate well in the Championship, however, where time on the ball is reduced and energy and hard-work are almost pre-requisites.
Though with Huddlestone performing better of late, particularly in Saturday’s 2-0 win against Sheffield Wednesday, Rowett will hope that the only way is up.
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