Unfortunately for everybody else, just as one baby-faced assassin departs in the shape of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Manchester United seem to have unearthed another. In Fraizer Campbell, currently on loan at Hull, they have a fresh-faced talent who has burst on to the Championship scene so well that the Tigers, who have never been in the top flight before, are going into the last match of the season still fighting for automatic promotion.
My first impression was that he was still raw. It struck me that he needed to have a picture in his mind when he received the ball, telling him exactly what to do with it, as once or twice he looked unsure, which meant that laying it off first time wasn't an option. However, as the game against Barnsley wore on, his first-touch play improved and it was his brilliant back-heel that set up Dean Windass for City's third.
He is blessed with real pace and in a tight match this proved to be decisive as he took a defender by surprise, touched the ball and drew the foul for a dead-cert penalty. Chasing lost causes such as this came naturally to him and, with Caleb Folan, his fellow centre-forward on the night for the first time in eight games, combined in a partnership, even in its infancy, of genuine potential.
Hull defend from the front and the front two chased and harried defenders all night. He took up intelligent positions when not involved in build-up play and even in a very crowded penalty area he had one or two decent efforts on goal from balls supplied from the flanks.
Comfortable coming short and holding the ball up, although I'd like to see him relax more on the ball, he also runs the channels very well. He was rarely caught offside and was very quick to face opponents up and put them on the back foot.
He could position himself better from defending clearances and I would like to see him bring players into the game quicker but these minor criticisms are really just nitpicking. As the game wore on he became virtually unplayable for his defender who, by the end of the match, was almost frightened to make a tackle, such was the uncertainty that Campbell had generated.
One moment summed up his threat: receiving the ball on the edge of the penalty box, he instantly turned to face two defenders and shimmied past one, then, at incredible pace, left the other standing. Maintaining his composure, he hit a shot on the run with his weaker foot that the keeper did well to parry. There was so much to admire about him - he worked so hard for his team-mates and got goalside of the ball at every opportunity. He also constantly worked a deep-lying Barnsley midfielder from the wrong side.
He has scored 15 times in 33 games for Hull and has already played in the Belgian top division for Royal Antwerp where he was nicknamed "Souper Campbell". With his attitude and ability, don't bet against more top-flight football coming his way. Age 20 Born Huddersfield Position Forward Height 5ft 11in Weight 12st 4lb From Manchester United trainee Pace 9/10 Heading 8/10 Shooting 8/10 Positioning 9/10 Team responsibility 9/10 Valuation £1.5m
