Tom Huddlestone has been growing his hair for charity since he last scored a goal two and a half years ago (Picture: Reuters)

There is not a better midfielder in England than Tom Huddlestone.

I was pretty sure of this fact before his virtuoso performance against Fulham at the KC Stadium. Now, it’s indisputable.

The fact that Huddlestone has ability isn’t news to anyone. But other things have been questioned in the past – his heart, his fitness, his work off the ball and his ability to run a game.

Those questions have been answered all season culminating in an 11 out of ten performance in the 6-0 demolition of a dire Fulham side.


The ability was at the fore. Huddlestone has a supreme first touch. He has a weaker (left) foot better than most players’ better foot. He knows where everyone is before he receives the ball because he plays with his head up.



The one criticism that could be made of him this season is his lack of goal threat – which is why he still had that mass of hair he’s been growing for charity!

From the first minute of the Fulham game he was looking to score. He was a threat from his delightful set pieces and as the game opened up, he got into shooting positions regularly.

Huddlestone made a brave move in the summer in signing for a newly promoted team without any other star names. He bought into Steve Bruce’s vision and took a gamble.

It’s proven to be the best thing he could have done. He suits being the ‘big fish in a small pond’. Playing every week suits him as does playing in a team that needs him – even relies on him.

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Hull City’s Tom Huddlestone celebrates scoring against Fulham (Picture: Reuters)

That has given him the opportunity to show that he can affect a game. He has the most touches of the ball of anyone in the Hull City side. He’s always available to receive the ball and rarely wastes it. He probes and pushes the ball moving the opposition and creating spaces. He also switches play in the blink of an eye.

Perhaps the most impressive aspect of his game though has been his work without the ball. He clocks up the mileage out of possession and tracks runs towards his own box. He also wins the ball back often, rarely by making a tackle but generally by reading the play and intercepting.

He’s shown that level of fitness and that bottle that many didn’t think he had in him.

I don’t care if he doesn’t play for England although it would bring deserved kudos for the club and the manager.

There’s no doubt that he deserves to though. He should be going to the World Cup. England should be building a team around players as technically superb as Huddlestone and Michael Carrick. Any other nation would be.

That isn’t a concern for many Hull City fans though. We’re just enjoying the chance to watch a master at work week after week.

Is he the best player we’ve ever had? For me, yes he is. Undoubtedly.

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