Jordan Hugill says he is enjoying the ‘friendly’ competition among Norwich City’s strikers as he pushes to get a regular place in Daniel Farke’s starting XI.
The £5m signing summer signing from West Ham has started just three games, with six sub appearances, with Teemu Pukki the striker of choice.
Adam Idah makes up the trio of front-line players battling for the shirt – and Hugill insists the competitive rivalry is a friendly one.
“I knew coming to the club the quality that it had - that’s why I came here, because I wanted to be involved in it,” he said. “I knew exactly what Teemu was about from his time in the Championship scoring 30-odd goals, which doesn’t come lightly.
“Scoring goals in the Championship is a hard thing to do, scoring that many is even harder. I’d like to think we compliment each other well because we’re two different styles of striker.
“He’s off the shoulder and I’m more of a link, but it works well, as you’ve seen on the pitch when we play together.”
Idah is an emerging talent who, says Hugill, will learn from his red card against Wycombe at the end of last month.
“Seeing Adam come through and improving every day, although what happened the other week wasn’t ideal, it will be a learning curve especially being that young and he probably won’t make that mistake again,” Hugill told the club’s official web site.
“We’ve got good, healthy competition, but it’s not competition in the sense that if I’m not playing then I don’t want anything to do with them. It’s a competition in the way that Teemu is playing and scoring goals, which is brilliant because I want this team to win.
“You look at all three of us and we’re three different strikers. Having the options, if something isn’t working, to bring a completely different option on, is good to have.
“Adam is a talented boy who will grow up to be a very powerful striker. Some days, you can’t get near him on the training pitch. The more he plays, the more confidence he’ll have getting used to the level, so I think he can do really well.”
City face a run of 10 games before the end of the year – although Hugill is looking forward to the challenge.
“I love having games all the time because it doesn’t give you time to dwell on anything,” he added. “If something bad happens, you don’t have time to think about it, you’re straight on with the next game to try to make it right.”
“It’s what I’ve been used to, having been in the Championship most of my career now. I relish the chance of playing games, so the more games that come thick and fast, the better.”
One thing Hugill misses is the lack of crowds.
“I don’t think you can get used to it,” he said. “Football without fans isn’t the best, to be honest. We’re grateful to be playing football and doing what we do for a living, but without the fans there… I like taking in everything that’s going on around me, so I’m not one of these players who, as soon as I get in the changing room, will put my headphones on. I like knowing what’s going on, hearing noise and hearing people talk.
“It’s the same when I step on the pitch. I like hearing noises and listening to what’s going on around me. Without that, it’s a bit strange. The sooner fans come back into football, the better.”
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