Hull City’s £5 million signing of former Aston Villa starlet Jaden Philogene is looking like one of the best deals in recent memory with one of the Championship’s rising stars showcasing his ‘ridiculous ability’ with a remarkable rabona in midweek.
It’s not often the ‘Dubious Goals Panel’ let emotion cloud their judgement. But even the most miserable men in football could not find it in their hearts to deny Jaden Philogene his flowers, the Hull City talisman producing a stunning – albeit heavily deflected – rabona strike during Tuesday’s 2-1 win at Rotherham United.
In truth, the Hull supporters have come to expect moments of jaw-dropping brilliance like this from a player who made three Premier league appearances for Aston Villa before moving to Humberside on a permanent basis last summer.
But, even by Philogene’s standards, this was something a little out of the ordinary.
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“Ridiculous. It’s ridiculous,” an awe-struck Liam Rosenior told Yorkshire Live, the Hull boss hailing the England under-21 international’s ‘outrageous’ talent.
“His ability is something we have missed for a long time. He is only going to get better the more games he plays.”
Philogene now has eight goals and five assists this term, and already has one Championship Goal of the Month award to his name after netting a brilliant backheel in December. Rosenior, however, is keen to highlight not only the 22-year-old’s ‘showreel moments’ but the dirty work he so willingly brings to the table too.
Buy-back clause looks an inspired move
“It is not just his goal or the showreel moments,” the former Derby Couny coach adds. “It is his energy levels for the team. He has a real belief, he can be a top player. But the reason he can be a top player is because he works so hard on his game.
“We have to get him off the training pitch because he wants to do extra.”
Aston Villa’s decision to include a £15 million buy-back clause in their academy graduate’s contract – as confirmed by Hull vice-chairman Tan Kesler – looks better and better every time the 22-year-old takes to the pitch these days.
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