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Tag: Aluko

  • Aluko extends Hull City deal till 2016

    Aluko extends Hull City deal till 2016

    Sone Aluko has extended his contract with English Premier League side Hull City till June 2016.

    “Signed. Sealed. Delivered. Great start to 2014. Blessed to have signed contract extension with Hull,” a delighted Aluko tweeted.

    The Nigeria forward has been out injured with an Achilles Tendon injury since the middle of October.

    Before that long-term injury setback, he had started eight league matches for ‘The Tigers’ and even scored the winner against Newcastle United.

    The 24-year-old player would have been a free agent in June had his contract not been extended.

    Last season, he played a big role as Hull City regained their place in the English top flight after several years in the Championship, but a long-term knee injury sidelined him in the closing weeks of the campaign.

    The winger, who has yet to establish himself in the Super Eagles, has featured for Birmingham City as well as Scottish clubs Aberdeen and Rangers.

  • Aluko’s Hull apply for name change

    Aluko’s Hull apply for name change

    Sone Aluko’s Hull City have confirmed they have applied to the FA to change their name to Hull Tigers from next season.

    Club owner, Assem Allam is reportedly pushing ahead with the application despite opposition from fans groups, who want to keep the name the club has had since it was founded in 1904.

    Allam believes the name change will make the club easier to market, particularly abroad. He has labelled the name ‘City’ as “lousy” and “common”.

    Hull fans formed a group called ‘City Till We Die’ and Allam stirred up further controversy by saying the fans ‘can die as soon as they want’.

    At the 19 minute and four-second mark of each recent game, Hull supporters have chanted against the Allam regime. And ‘City Till We Die’ hit back at Allam’s remarks.

    Allam, who moved to Hull in 1968, announced earlier this year that the company name had changed from Hull City AFC to Hull City Tigers. The Tigers chief has pumped millions of his own money into the club and has threatened to walk away if his plans are not accepted.

  • Aluko not for sale, says Hull boss

    Aluko not for sale, says Hull boss

    Hull City boss Steve Bruce has said Nigeria forward Sone Aluko is not for sale.

    The 24-year-old forward has turned down Hull City’s offers referred to as ‘fabulous offer’ by the team to prolong his stay at the KC Stadium.

    The discussion on his contract extension has stalled due to the Achilles injury which will sideline the Nigerian until February.

    Hull are also having to fend off mounting speculation suggesting that they will need to cash in on the former Rangers man in the New Year in order to avoid losing him on a free next summer.

    Bruce, though, is adamant that no sale will be sanctioned and hopes an unfortunate injury ends up playing into his hands.

    He told the Hull Daily Mail:”I’m still hopeful that we can do something (with the contract).

    “The most disappointing thing is getting injured. He could do without that when he’s talking about a new contract.

    “We’ll still talk to him and we’re still optimistic. I’ve got no intention of letting him go anywhere in January.

    “I don’t think he’s going to be fit in January so I don’t see any prospect of anyone coming in for him.”

    Bruce is also expecting to receive full backing from his board when it comes to Aluko’s future, adding:

    “People are criticising my owners over the name change but the most important thing for me is if I turn around and say ‘We’re not selling Sone Aluko at whatever cost’, then he (Assem Allam) won’t do it. I’m confident about that.

    “I can’t see any reasoning in that one. I can’t see us selling Aluko, even if he doesn’t sign a new contract.

    “I can’t see it unless it’s ridiculous money,and I can’t see anyone paying ridiculous money for someone who’s injured and played a handful of games since last Christmas.”

  • Aluko targets Super Eagles recall

    Aluko targets Super Eagles recall

    Hull City striker Sone Aluko is hoping that a good form for his club would help him get a dream recall to the Super Eagles squad.

    The former England youth international switched allegiances four years ago and made his Super Eagles debut in 2009.

    His last game under coach Stephen Keshi was in June 2012 as a substitute in a 2-0 win over Rwanda in a 2013 Africa cup of nations qualifier.

    “If things go my way this season I can still break into the team for Brazil definitely. If I maintain my form then I will have a good case for selection,” he told BBC Sport.

    The former U23 player has scored one goal for Hull this season in a 3-2 victory over Newcastle United.

  • Aluko to sport new jersey

    Super Eagles striker Sone Aluko is to sport a new jersey at Hull, following the decision of the club owners to rename the club as Hull Tigers as part of a rebranding process.

    Club owners Assem and Ehab Allam are uncomfortable with the use of “City” insisting they want to have their own identity especially with the newly promoted side ready to do battle in the new English Premier League season which kicks off August 17.

    References to AFC – which has been part of the club’s name since they were founded in 1904 – will be gradually phased out, with the term remaining on the club’s badge this season before being removed.

    The club will ultimately be known as Hull City Tigers locally, with the Allams claiming they will rebrand as Hull Tigers in the national and international market.

    “Hull City is irrelevant,” Assem Allam told the Hull Daily Mail. “My dislike for the word ‘City’ is because it is common.

    “City is also associated with Leicester, Bristol, Manchester and many other clubs.

    “In the commercial world, the shorter the name, the better. The more it can spread quickly.

    “It is about identity. City is a lousy identity. Hull City Association Football Club is so long.”

    The move has generated controversy among the club’s supporters, with an online petition already established protesting against the rebrand.

    If there is one thing that is paramount in the mind of the Nigerian international and former Rangers ace, however, it is to have a good run in the new elite division. Aluko, who made a record 82 appearances with seven goals in the kitty for former club Aberdeen between 2008 and 2011, recently expressed delight that Hull made it to the premiership, adding, “It is a new challenge and I am looking forward to a good run.”

  • Aluko says Hull City will shock EPL

    Aluko says Hull City will shock EPL

    Nigeria winger Sone Aluko said he is confident he and Hull City could be the English Premier League shock troopers next season.

    Aluko was an attacking revelation as ‘The Tigers’ clinched automatic promotion, scoring eight goals in 22 starts before injury cut short his campaign in January.

    Although an ill-timed lay-off meant the 24-year-old missed out on the final four months of the season, a full recovery ensures he will rejoin team-mates for pre-season training on July 4.

    That will begin the countdown to the Premier League kick-off on August 17 and Aluko is desperate for the chance to prove himself at the highest level.

    “I’m 100 per cent confident I can go to the Premier League and play my part,” he said. “I can’t wait, I honestly can’t wait.

    “They should fear me because I watched them far more than they’ve watched me!

    “Hopefully, that will give me the advantage. Not just myself but I hope the whole team can take a few people by surprise.”

    Aluko is heading back to the top flight eight years after he came within a whisker of a Premier League debut.

    As the rising star of Birmingham City under Tigers boss Steve Bruce, a 16-year-old Aluko was an unused substitute for the Blues visit to Arsenal in October 2005.

    That ultimately proved to be a premature introduction and it has needed spells north of the border with Aberdeen and Rangers, and last summer’s move to East Yorkshire to bring him back to the brink of the Premier League.

    Aluko said he is more “tortoise than hare” but is thrilled to have arrived back in the big time.

    “I came close before when I got to the bench at 16,” he explained.

    “The manager never put me on and I still rib Steve Bruce about it now. I could have been one of the youngest players ever in the Premier League and now I’m 24.

    “Obviously I’m the tortoise instead of the hare. It’s taken me eight years to get from the bench to the Premier League again.

    “It’s going to be incredible playing against Manchester United, Liverpool and the Chelsea. That’s what you dream about when you’re young.

    “For someone like me, with the career I’ve had, it’s amazing to get there.”

  • Millwall game my best- Aluko

    Millwall game my best- Aluko

    The 2012/13 season will go down as one of the most memorable in Hull City’s history after automatic promotion to the Barclays Premier League was secured.

    Picking out one game that stands out above all the rest isn’t an easy task, but we’re giving several squad members the opportunity to do just that.

    Sone Aluko is the latest to attempt it. Unfortunately, he broke the rules straightaway!

    “I’ve got two if that’s ok?

    “Firstly I would pick out the opening 45 minutes against Millwall back in September. In terms of the football we played, that was one of the best games I’ve ever played in and we totally dominated it.

    “We were 4-0 up by half time and I managed to score as well. A lot of fans said it was the best 45 minutes they have ever seen from Hull City and that is a big compliment.

    “As players out there on the pitch, we could sense that the performance was something special and it was always going to be hard to recreate that again.

    “It was great to be a part of that performance. When the momentum goes with you like that, it’s hard for the opposition to stop. We were playing football in the way we wanted to and that was a special day.

    “I would also have to say the game against Leeds at the KC was right up there. The atmosphere was incredible and we played some really fluent football.

    “When we played well, we really blew teams away and everything clicked for us again that day.

    “I’ve had good fortune in my career when it comes to local derbies and that has continued here with us taking six points from Leeds.

    “The fans love it – there are games they look out for. It was great to beat Leeds home and away, but I thought the home performance was particularly good.”

  • ALUKO MAY MISS AFCON 2013

    ALUKO MAY MISS AFCON 2013

    •Tiger’s ace out for 2-3 weeks 

    NIGERIA international, Sone Aluko may have his African Nations Cup in South Africa dream shattered following the news that he may be sidelined for between two and three weeks as the Tigers seek to put an end to his troublesome Achilles problem.

    Aluko has missed the last two games and has now had an injection to help clear up the problem, with manager Steve Bruce hoping a period of complete rest will aid the recovery process for City’s leading goalscorer.

    “Sone trained on Thursday and unfortunately was sore on Friday,” said Bruce.

    “He had an injection on Friday and we’re hoping that now he’s got five or six days off doing absolutely nothing, in two to three weeks it will have done the trick and we’ll see Sone back again.

    “We’ve played two games away from home without arguably our best player of the season and we’re hoping it’s not a bad one. The worry is that it’s the tendon, but the scan has revealed that there is no real damage. We’ve put an injection in to try and release it.”

  • 2013 AFCON UPDATE KESHI KEEPS VIGIL ON ALUKO

    2013 AFCON UPDATE KESHI KEEPS VIGIL ON ALUKO

    NIGERIA coach Stephen Keshi says Sone Aluko’s form for Hull City has put him in contention for a call-up for the Africa Cup of Nations.

    The 23-year-old joined the Tigers on a free transfer in the summer and has been a revelation for Steve Bruce’s men, scoring eight goals to help City in their promotion push.

    Aluko’s form hasn’t gone unnoticed and there has been talk for the last month that Nigeria may come calling for the Africa Cup of Nations, which takes place in January. Should Aluko be called up to the national side then the East Yorkshire outfit would have to cope without their star man for a month at a busy time of year. “I’ve been monitoring Aluko’s performance for Hull City and he’s been having a great season,” Keshi said.

    “Does he have a chance to go to South Africa? Probably. I like him as a player and for being a top professional in camp.”

  • ALUKO, OLOFINJANA ON TARGET FOR HULL CITY

    SONE ALUKO continued his phenomenal scoring form for Hull City, as he fired a brace to see Hull City defeat Birmingham City at St Andrews.

    Aluko’s two-goal game takes his season tally to eight goals in 15 starts for The Tigers.

    Seyi Olofinjana also got brace before he was replaced in the 63th minute by David Meyler for Hull City.

    The left footed Nigerian struck the first goal after just 14 minutes, and added a second 12 minutes later, to give the visitors a surprise two-goal lead.

    James Chester added a third with 33 minutes gone, to give Hull a comfortable three-goal cushion.

    But Birmingham City would make a game of it, as Ravel Morrison pulled one back just five minutes later, to end the half 3-1 to the visitors.

    Marlon King made it 3-2 just a minute into the second half, to give hope to the home fans.

    But it will all come to naught, as Hull City held on to claim the win.

    The victory propelled Hull into 4th place, just five points off leaders, Crystal Palace. Birmingham City dropped to 19th.