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Sone Aluko knew the only way was up from moment he arrived at Hull City

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Hull City forward Sone Aluko has been vindicated after aiming high from day one with the Tigers.

Once his virtuoso attacking performance had helped sink Bristol City 2-1 on October 27, Sone Aluko could be heard banging the same promotion drum for six long months.

The Ashton Gate win saw the Tigers claim a place back in the top six after a stuttering run and while manager Steve Bruce attempted to play down the club's automatic promotion hopes, his centre-forward refused to toe the party line.

Sights were locked ambitiously on a top-two finish and City did not disappoint.

Although an Achilles injury cruelly robbed Aluko of his leading role beyond New Year's Day, his team-mates have eventually turned him into a footballing prophet.

"I said when I came to Hull that it was a team that could win promotion," said Aluko.

"I had the choice of quite a few Championship clubs last summer and I chose Hull because of the squad they had at the time and the manager coming in.

"It was clear he was trying to build a team that was capable of winning promotion.

"Everyone wrote us off. Even until the last week, when we'd lost at Barnsley, there weren't many people saying we'd go up. That makes it very rewarding for this team."

Aluko may have missed the second half of City's promotion season but his imprints on a vintage campaign refuse to fade.

Eight goals before November made Aluko the talk of the Championship and had Bruce drawing comparisons with Crystal Palace and Manchester United star Wilfried Zaha. Not bad for a free transfer.

Aluko's arrival from Rangers last summer has given him a season he will never forget.

"It's hard to sum up but for me it's been great, it's been everything for me," he said.

"This was my first real season in English football and to get promoted here with such a great set of lads has been brilliant.

"The highs definitely outweigh the lows of being injured and missing half of the season that's for sure.

"It was more frustrating not being part of it, not being able to contribute.

"Watching from the sidelines like any other fan, you're at the mercy of your team-mates and referees.

"But I always had faith in the lads because they've shown just how good they are this season."

For all its dazzling moments, Aluko's debut season in East Yorkshire ended blighted by injury.

Achilles surgery in mid-January condemned him to the role of frustrated onlooker and none more so than on the final day of the season.

City's 2-2 draw with Cardiff had Aluko ducking in and out of the KC Stadium tunnel monitoring scores from Watford's clash with Leeds United.

A 2-1 defeat for the Hornets eventually confirmed the Tigers' ascent and set a party in motion through the Bank Holiday weekend and into Wednesday night's celebrations in front of 7,800 fans.

"The last 20 minutes was worse than the five months before it to be honest," said Aluko.

"I watched it on a monitor, I'd rather just know myself.

"I sat outside in the first half but in the second half I was coming in and out to check things.

"When Leeds scored the joy was overwhelming. It was a great day and the celebration party was, too.

"I honestly thought that would be a small occasion where we'd get our medals and go home.

"I didn't know it would be anything like it was. It sums up what it means to the city to have Premier League football back here.

"This is a team for the city to be proud of and, for me, it's an honour to represent this club.

"We're only the second team that's won promotion to the Premier League so it's a chance to go down in history here."

Aluko has more reason than most to relish a full pre-season campaign with the Tigers.

As well as a date with boyhood club Birmingham City at St Andrews circled on his calendar, seven weeks of training up to the Premier League kick-off on August 17 will provide him with the chance he craves to hit top gear again.

"I'll be fine," he added. "Even if I need to get a new Achilles I'll be there!

"If we'd have been in the play-offs I'd have played so I wasn't far off, but now it's all about looking forward to pre-season and getting back up to full speed."

• Don't miss our special 24-page Hull City season review, free inside today's Mail.

Sone Aluko knew the only way was up from moment he arrived at Hull City


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