Hull City boss, Steve Bruce, plans to reward Nigerian whizkid, Sone Aluko, with a new long-term deal at the KC Stadium – as soon as the gifted striker can prove his fitness.
Aluko has boosted the Tigers’ pre-season preparations with a welcome return to full training following the Achilles surgery that curtailed an excellent debut campaign in January.
Another 45 minutes were added in City’s 0-0 draw with Braga in Albuferia last night, keeping the 24-year-old on track to feature in the opening weekend of the Premier League season at Chelsea.
Now in the final 12 months of a two-year deal signed upon his arrival from Rangers last summer, the prospect of a new contract has already been mooted.
Talks will not begin with Aluko until his rehabilitation is complete, but Bruce has vowed to fight off any potential suitors.
“Believe me, I’ll do everything I can to keep Sone Aluko at this football club, don’t worry about that,” Bruce told the Mail.
“It’s very difficult to offer people contracts when they’re just coming back from a serious injury.
“We’ve said to his agent and to Sone that when he’s fully fit through pre-season, we’ll sit down.”
After run-outs against Winterton and Sheffield Wednesday saw Aluko back in action for the first time since aggravating an Achilles injury suffered on January 12, he was part of a City squad travelling back to England this morning buoyed by a week of training in the Algarve.
Aluko will hope for another chance to sharpen his fitness when returning to face boyhood club Birmingham in the next of City’s friendlies on Saturday.
Bruce has been pleased with his progress and said: “He’s a really talented player and seeing him back fit is great.
“You can just see the little bits of magic he’s capable of. Until Christmas I felt he was the best player in the Championship until he got injured.
“He’s got to go and do it again now. There’s no doubting his ability, he just needs to stay fit and do what he does.”
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