Aluko’s screamer seals win for Tigers

Newcastle United 2 Hull City 3

The 26-year-old midfielder played a key role in Hull’s battling 3-2 Premier League victory at Newcastle on Saturday after swapping North London for Humberside during the summer.

It is a move which has given him a new lease of life after injuries and a lack of first-team opportunities at White Hart Lane.

Asked how much he was enjoying his football, he said: “Yes, just playing regularly in a team which believes in playing the right way and believing in myself. Hopefully things will continue to progress as they are.

“Everybody wants to play and anybody who has had long-term injuries like myself, you count your blessings once you are fit and you are training every day.

“But inevitably, you want to be playing at the weekend and if that’s not the case for whatever reason, you need to do your best.”

The game did not begin in promising fashion for the Tigers as they fell behind after just 11 minutes.

Striker Loic Remy headed past goalkeeper Allan McGregor from close range after Papiss Cisse had flashed a volley across the goal.

But the lead lasted just 15 minutes and Hull were back in it when Republic of Ireland winger Robbie Brady ran on to Sone Aluko’s pass and shot between Tim Krul’s legs.

Remy restored the Magpies’ advantage a minute before half-time after James Chester had blocked Yohan Cabaye’s initial effort, but the visitors were back on terms once again three minutes into the second half courtesy of Ahmed Elmohamady’s glancing header.

The best was saved until last when Aluko smashed home a 76th-minute volley from George Boyd’s pull-back to clinch the points.

Of that winner Huddlestone said: “It was unbelievable. I’m not sure if it hit off his shin or knee or his boot, but as long as it hits the back of the net, that’s the main thing.”

NEWCASTLE: Krul, Debuchy (Tiote 86), Yanga-Mbiwa, Coloccini, Santon, Cabaye (Gouffran 62), Anita, Sissoko, Ben Arfa, Cisse (Marveaux 73), Remy.

HULL: McGregor, Elmohamady, Chester, Davies, Rosenior, Quinn (Boyd 64), Huddlestone, Livermore, Brady (Meyler 74), Aluko, Graham (Sagbo 84).

Referee: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire).