Why Huddersfield Town’s New Signing Steve Mounie Is All Set To Take The English Premier League By Storm
Steve Mounie made a remarkable impact on his first competitive start for Huddersfield Town, scoring twice in a spectacular 3-0 win away at Crystal Palace on the opening weekend of the Premier League season.
The Benin international striker, who was signed for a club record fee of £11.44m, is improving very quickly and it seems the Terriers have found themselves a real star here. His goal record shows that he is just about making his presence felt now and will most likely go on to improve over the course of the next year.
In his breakthrough season in professional football on loan at Nimes in Ligue2, Mounie scored 11 goals in 32 games which made Montpellier truly take notice and get him into their first team squad the following summer. In 2016/17, playing for his parent club, he scored 14 in 35 and this time, at Ligue1 level.
That’s a fair jump and although it’s way too early to say he can score 15+ in the Premier League, he has certainly made a quick enough start with his impressive performance and brace of goals at Selhurst Park.
This weekend, Huddersfield entertain a Newcastle United side who lost Paul Dummett and Florian Lejeune to injuries against Tottenham and also had defensive shield Jonjo Shelvey sent off, due to which he is now suspended. Clearly, regardless of the end result, there is an opportunity for Mounie to score again and really stamp his authority on this team as it’s go-to man for goals.
In the crazy world of Premier League football, just another handful of performances like this and a goal tally of double figures will see Huddersfield be able to quote huge prices for Mounie should they wish to cash in on him in a year’s time. For now though, he looks set to be the darling of the terraces, just as is the case with all big goal scorers.
A few eyebrows were raised when Huddersfield paid a fee of £11.44million for Mounie’s services given his limited time at first team level in France, though we are increasingly seeing that the judgement of manager David Wagner and Chairman Dean Hoyle should not really be questioned.
Last season’s key signings of Chris Schindler, Michael Hefele and Aaron Mooy (on loan) pretty much ensured their play-off place and this summer’s moves for Scott Malone, Tom Ince and of course Mooy on a permanent deal all look like great pieces of business.
They have been willing to spend some of their new found riches and have invested them well, with Mounie as of now looking their best purchase by far. Players like him, big improvers, often surprise with how quickly they get better and better and I think this level of ascension will mean clubs will continue to be surprised by his ability as the season wears on.