NEWPORT County AFC are hoping that deadline day signing Kyle Hudlin will prove a tall order for League Two defences to contain after the 6ft 9in striker joined on loan from Huddersfield Town, writes Andrew Penman.

The 24-year-old is known as one of the tallest players in world football and head coach Nelson Jardim says he will add a different dimension to the County attack.

“He will stand out – it will be easy to recognise him on the pitch,” said the Exiles boss.

“Like other players, I always think about the qualities he’s got as a footballer.

“Losing Hamzad [Kargbo to injury], we fall short in terms of strikers and, with the options we had, we felt Hudlin would be the best for us to provide that cover that we needed.

“He’s certainly a player that can affect both boxes and he brings more options to the club.

“We have to see where he can help the team,” added Jardim. “He will obviously be strong on set-pieces, but he’s got some qualities that we can use as a platform.

“He’s got other attributes that we can explore. And this loan is something for him where he will be looking to improve his performance.”

Hudlin will not be available for today’s League Two clash away at Morecambe, but he will link up with the squad on Monday and could make his debut in Tuesday night’s EFL Trophy tie at home to Cheltenham Town.

The striker secured a move to Championship club Huddersfield after impressing for Solihull Moors and has had previous loan spells at AFC Wimbledon and Burton Albion.

Hudlin says there is more to his game than his height.

“Growing up, I always had the ball at my feet, doing a skill. I haven’t trained as a big guy, and I haven’t had that academy training,” he said.

“I have always been around the small technical players, and you have to drop a skill in there.

“I would watch the likes of Ronaldinho, Robinho, Neymar, Messi, Ronaldo – his heading attributes is like he is a big guy.

“You will get furthest in this game by building your own identity though. I want young players to be looking up to me and wanting to be like Kyle Hudlin.

“People are already put off by me as soon as I get off the bus,” he added. “The mental battle is already won.

“I have the mental confidence when I get on the pitch that I am going to be better and bigger than them.”

Hudlin is County’s 17th summer signing and Jardim has declared himself happy with his squad after a busy recruitment drive led by owner Huw Jenkins.

“We are never [completely] covered because we don’t know what’s going to happen next week,” said Jardim. “Random things can happen, more injuries – but we try to cover all corners as much as we can, knowing that there is always a level of uncertainty that you cannot control.

“But I would say we would be happy until January when the transfer window opens again. Once we are there we can assess and see what we want to do for the future.”