Non-league Harborough Town have signed towering forward Kyle Hudlin just in time for their FA Cup date with Leyton Orient.
Harborough Town have pulled off a headline-grabbing piece of transfer business, signing striker Kyle Hudlin ahead of their FA Cup tie away at Leyton Orient. At 6ft 9in, Hudlin is among the tallest professional footballers anywhere in the world.
The timing is no accident. The Cup is where non-league sides get their shot at the big stage, and a target man of Hudlin's size gives Harborough a very different weapon to throw at Football League opposition. Every long ball, set piece and cross into the box becomes a potential problem for Orient's back line.
Hudlin's height will draw the attention, but Harborough will be hoping he offers more than a novelty. Physical presence in the final third can win knockdowns, drag defenders out of shape and create space for team-mates, which is the kind of edge a smaller club needs against a higher-ranked side.
Whether he starts or comes off the bench, all eyes will be on the giant forward when Harborough walk out in east London. For a club chasing a famous Cup upset, a 6ft 9in surprise package might be just the card to play.
