The Tigers loanee continued his stunning recent form at the weekend
The superlatives continue to flood in for in-form Hull City star Joe Gelhardt, after bagging his ninth goal of the season to help the Tigers claim a late 2-1 win at Stoke City on Saturday.
Gelhardt’s clinical finish in the 90th minute was his seventh in his last nine games and leaves him just one behind the league’s top scorers, Brandon Thomas-Asante and the injured Carlton Morris.
Former Reading promotion-winning campaign Jobi McAnuff believes the gametime and freedom given to him by boss Sergej Jakirovic has played a major part in his recent glut of goals, something the Sky Sports pundit says is incredible.
“That’s what any player needs (regular minutes), but I think particularly forward players. You want to know that you’re gonna go out there week in, week out and play regularly, but you have to deliver,” he told Sky Sports.
“He certainly has done that so far this season; that’s an incredible return in terms of goals and assists. He had a good spell here at the back end of last year as well, so he’s familiar with the club.
“As an attacking player, you have to be able to go and play with freedom. You have to be able to take that risk to go and make the difference, and sometimes when you’re too safe, you’re not at your best cos you’re worried about ‘If I don’t score, I don’t create, then I’m not gonna be in the team.’
“Whereas I look at him, he’s playing with such freedom. I did his game against Leicester City, and he’s just got all-round game, this ability to go and run in behind, and then this is what he’s done so well. Yes, he’s a left-footed player who wants to cut inside, and we’ve seen goals that he’s scored, but his ability to go both ways and that penetration.
“I mean that touch and the finish (the lofted winner against Portsmouth). That is a player playing at the top of his game, where you know everything now is just instinctive. The touch and then doesn’t even think about it, he sees the keeper coming out, little dink over the top. He’s been fantastic, particularly with Oli McBurnie missing at the moment and that need for goals in those forward areas.”
Here at Hull Live , we are dedicated to bringing you the best Hull City coverage and analysis. Make sure you don’t miss out on the latest City news by joining our free WhatsApp group.
You can get all the breaking news and best analysis sent straight to your phone by clicking here to subscribe. You can also subscribe to our free newsletter service.
Click here to be sent all the day’s biggest stories.