Manchester United youngster Joe Hugill is back among the goals after scoring on loan for Wigan Athletic.
Joe Hugill was the second Manchester United player to score in pre-season 2024, following Amad Diallo’s goal against Rangers.
While Amad has gone onto star for Manchester United’s first team, his former under-21s teammate Joe Hugill was quickly sent out on loan.
Hugill signed for Wigan and was handed the club’s number nine shirt – but it has not been smooth sailing for the 21-year-old.
Kristof Klarer of Birmingham City competes with Joe Hugill of Wigan Athletic during the Sky Bet League One match between Birmingham City FC and Wig...
Photo by Malcolm Couzens/Getty Images
Joe Hugill on target
Joe Hugill was on target for Wigan on December 10 in their EFL Trophy knockout tie against Chesterfield.
He netted a goal in injury time, yet it was not enough. His strike pulled the score back to 3-2, which is how the game finished.
It was some relief for Hugill to hit the target – but it could have been better. Wigan Today reported that the Manchester United loanee had ‘hat-trick of decent opportunities’ that he spurned.
Hugill was not the only player to miss opportunities – but it was a game that frustrated his boss, with Shaun Maloney commenting afterwards: “We created chances, and big chances at that, we just didn’t take them.”
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What is positive, is that Hugill got all 90 minutes plus stoppage time, and kept at it. That’s what good strikers are supposed to do, focus on the next chance, and score it. The youngster won’t need telling that he should have been more ruthless earlier in the game, he’s there to learn, and this will be a valuable experience.
Taking the positives for Hugill
Joe Hugill should take the positives, this was his first goal on loan since September, when he struck a brace in the league against Bristol Rovers.
Hugill has four goals in total during his loan spell, in 13 total appearances for the club.
While it has been a long time without a goal, this was due to an injury lay-off which required him to return to Manchester United for a scan, although he did his recovery work at Wigan.
Speaking in late October, Maloney said: “He’s done one of the ligaments in his ankle, and it’s worse than we initially thought it was.”
Hugill’s last league appearance was in on October 22. He did subsequently play one game in the FA Cup, a competition they are still alive in, drawn against Mansfield in January.
This recent game was great for Hugill to be back on the pitch, to last the game, and to get his goal.
Strikers can blow hot and cold, and getting a strike under his belt following his return from injury is important. Hopefully he can now go on a run, and add a few more.
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