Wolverhampton Wanderers loanee Rafa Mir scored a brilliant hat-trick in La Liga over the weekend and, as Terry Gibson told El Tel and Jon’s La Liga Weekly podcast, the striker could thrive under new management at Huesca.
No one in Huesca’s squad has benefitted more from the departure of Miguel Angel Sanchez and the subsequent arrival of a new head coach, Jose Rojo Martin ‘Pacheta’, three weeks ago.
Because, while Martin tended to play Mir out wide, his successor has shaken things up and given the Spain U21 international a new role; one that perfectly suits his strengths.
As you might imagine, given his 6ft 3ins frame and the mini trampolines that appear to have been installed in the bottom of his football boots, Mir is rather useful in the air.
And, when former Manchester City youngster Pablo Maffeo whipped a gorgeous ball into the penalty area 37 minutes into Friday’s trip to Real Valladolid, it was no surprise that Mir was on the end of it.
By the end of the game, Huesca had a confidence-boosting 3-1 win to boost their survival prospects, while the Wolves loanee strolled off the Jose Zorilla turf with the matchball under his arm.
“I was frustrated watching Huesca because they didn’t get enough crosses into the box. I think (Mir) is a genuine strength, in terms of aerial ability. He’s strong, his hold-up ability is good and, for a player in that manner, he’s got really good pace,” said La Liga expert and former Tottenham forward Gibson, who is thrilled to see Huesca get the best out of their most potent attacking weapon.
“I didn’t think the previous manager played to his strengths. He started the season wide on the right – I always thought that was a slight waste.
“Now, they’re getting him the service.”
It remains to be seen whether Mir, snapped up from Valencia in 2018 despite interest from Real Madrid, has a future at Wolves. That Nuno opted to bring back Patrick Cutrone and then recruit Willian Jose, rather than give their forgotten man another chance, spoke volumes.
But, after Mir followed up his first-half header at Vallodolid with two stunning efforts after the interval (a pair of gorgeous strikes Raul Jimenez would have been proud of), Wolves have just been handed a timely reminder of his abilities.
“I think he’s got the talent, he’s still relatively young,” Gibson added. “His goals were terrific, all three. The goal he took early was a player full of confidence, he didn’t even think about it.”
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