Tom Huddlestone is back in business

What a joke Tom (left)

A swollen belly with a MacDonald bag in one hand. It was a good joke but so true that everyone thought the photo was real. Overweight and lazy shouldn't be the description of Tom Huddlestone on football field. The eight years spell at White Hart Lane could not justify the reason he was once rated as the future of England midfield, not until his move to Hull City last summer, having established as a cornerstone of Steve Bruce's team and finally live up to his potential. Huddlestone is once again a delight to watch.

As an anchorman, Huddlestone is a complete package. Being an expertise in spreading the ball around and controlling match tempo, his ability to do this with either feet makes him more special. And not to forget his trademark thundering long shot. The power he can generate yet makes it look so casual is incredible. The fact that he doesn't score often does not cause his skills to be forgotten, but make each of his goals more phenomenal (See videos). In modern games which possession is the key, Huddlestone should be a midfield that every manager dreams to own.

However, the sole element that is missing in his resume has been costly to his career. Perhaps he would have to blame for where he was born. When Andrea Pirlo and Xavi are classified as the world's greatest playmakers, Huddlestone has struggled in English football which is all about pace. Many are disillusioned by his 6 feet 2 inches tall and strong body. Similar to Pirlo and Xavi, the 27 years old midfielder is at his best playing alongside a more natural defensive midfielder.

This was not the case in Tottenham. Either in a 4-4-2 or 4-2-3-1 formation, he was paired with an all-rounded midfield (Jermaine Jenas) or creative playmaker (Luka Modric), that Huddlestone's main responsibility was to protect the back. Asking Tom to chase after the ball for 90 minutes is absolutely a waste of his talent. Employing him at centreback occasionally does not help either. His lack of speed is just not ideal to play in both positions in Premier League.

Although never quite at his best, Huddlestone still established himself as one of the fan favourites in North London. However, to saviour his career, leaving Tottenham was a no-brainer, especially when they have more than just a handful of central midfielders.

Under Steve Bruce, he is treated as the heart of midfield that balls are accustomed to go through Huddlestone first to initiate the attack. More importantly, he is surrounded by blue-collar midfielders whose focus are on regaining possession. In Bruce's 5-midfield setup, Huddlestone finds his comfort zone to show his vision and passing range, also demonstrate his sense of positioning to recover possession rapidly.

While matches against Liverpool and Fulham raise the eyebrow of many, long-term admirers would not be surprised by his low-profiled, laidback but stylish game. This reminds people of his once-teammate Michael Carrick. The natural question that comes next is how likely Huddlestone will be under Roy Hodgson's radar to join the squad to Rio.

Unfortunately, Hodgson does not appear to be keen with this type of players. One can tell that he doesn't mind to forfeit the right of possession to his opponents. No wonder, Carrick and Huddlestone both fail to be in the mix regularly. As Hodgson also claimed his scouting for World Cup squad is more or less completed that there should be no more surprising choice, it is unlikely in the near future Huddlestone can add to the four caps he has earned, let alone playing the tournament in Brazil.  

Goodbye hair

Steve Bruce was hoping the less hairy Tom could get some weight off his boy. He should know well Huddlestone's game is all about intelligence rather than mobility. It is not only his appearance is different now. We are witnessing a reborn Tom Huddlestone in Hull City's jersey, confidently ruling the midfield of KC Stadium.