Joe
Hugill

He instantly made an impression in the Under-18 Premier League North division for the Reds, scoring both goals on his debut in a 2-1 victory over Blackburn Rovers at The Cliff. A swift elevation to the Under-23s followed and he became a vital part of Neil Wood's side, not only finding the net regularly but leading the line and working tirelessly from the front. A four-goal blast against Liverpool in a 6-3 away win in Premier League 2 provided further evidence of his growing maturity and influence, as he became only the second Red from available post-War records to score so many times for the club in a single game against the Merseysiders. Steve James was the first. After finishing on 10 goals in 11 starts (plus seven appearances as substitute) for the Under-23s, and 6 in 6 at Under-18s level, he was rewarded with promotion to training with the first-team squad in the 2021 close season.