Linares quickly becoming fans favourite

Striker hits the ground running

After just nine games into the new season and Real Oviedo fans have themselves a new hero. The man in question is new goal scoring sensation Miguel Linares. What do we know about Linares? Well he is 32 years of age and has played for various clubs mainly in the lower reaches of Spanish football. The last 4 years though has been spent in the Segunda division with Elche and more recently Recreativo. His goal scoring record over the years has been about 1 goal every 4 games. Since arriving at the Carlos Tartiere though his ratio has jumped to over 1 goal every game, with 10 goals already in just 9 games. This includes 1 hat trick and he has also found the net twice on two occasions. As impressive as the amount of goals he has scored, is the variety of goals he seems to be scoring. There is most types of goals imaginable in the 10. What of course does help any striker settle in to a new club is an early goal. Linares went one better and grabbed 2 goals on his debut against Sporting B on the opening day of the season. One of which was of course that memorable goal when he was the benefactor of Hector Font’s superb piece of skill and vision. Linares himself finished the move wonderfully well. Another impressive part of Linares game that has made him win over the fans is his insatiable appetite and work rate. This was demonstrated in his first away goal when he chased down the Cultural goalkeeper forcing him into a mistake.

This was the start of a four game scoring streak. Two followed the following weekend against league leaders Guijuelo as we romped to a 4-0 success. He then scored in the crazy 4-3 defeat at Valladolid B before notching the only goal in our top of the table clash with UD Logrones. A smart finish at the near post catching the keeper off guard. This left him with 7 league goals at this point. This latest week though has been the best for him so far when he scored the winning goal in the Copa del Rey tie against UCAM Murcia which was a stunning strike. A left foot swivel volley which has set the club up with a lucrative two-legged tie against Real Sociedad. The best was still to come though just 3 days later against Celta B when Linares completed a hat trick for Los Carbayones. His first was a typical poachers goal, pouncing on a loose ball in the area to fire in off the post. His second was a clever finish after a one-two with Hector Font. Even these goals were surpassed by his third goal though which has had everyone talking. A 55 yard volley from inside his own half. A truly memorable strike that has appeared on TV stations and websites all over the world.

It would however be unfair not to mention Linares team mates as none of this would have been possible without them. He has been aided by some inform team mates, in particular Hector Font, Sergio Garcia, Susaeta & Omgba but as is often the case in football its goal scorers that seem to grab all the headlines and are the ones worshipped most by fans.

We must keep our fingers crossed that Linares form and fitness continues as he may just be the man to fire us to promotion.