ROBBIE Brady is tipping summer signing Maynor Figueora to light up the Premier League when Hull City begin their new season next month.
Figueora caught the eye in only his second appearance for the Tigers since arriving on a free transfer, dispatching a spectacular drive to sink Peterborough United 1-0 at London Road on Monday.
The 30-year-old defender was famed for his goals from distance during five seasons with Wigan, and Brady already believes City have landed a special player.
"I saw him score a few last year and I couldn't wait to see if he was going to put one in for us early in the season," said Brady, who is expected to work closely with Figueroa down City's left flank.
"He should have held that one for Chelsea, but it was an unbelievable strike. It was worthy of winning any game. He's got that in his locker so we should probably give him the ball that far out all the time and tell him to shoot.
"He's Premier League standard. He will have been disappointed to go down with Wigan last year but thankfully that's pushed the move on for us.
"All the lads are delighted to have him here, he's a great bloke. If he keeps producing stuff like that he'll have no problems."
Figueroa's brilliance provided City with a lift before they jet out to Germany for a two-game tour on Friday.
With away fixtures against Dynamo Dresden and Eintracht Braunschweig only followed by the visit of Real Betis to the KC Stadium on August 10, the Tigers' much-anticipated top-flight return is edging ever closer.
Eighteen days are all that remain until Brady's Premier League bow and he struggles to hide his excitement.
He said: "I'm over the moon about it. This is what me and all the lads have dreamed about since we were kids. We've got a great bunch of lads who play some great football. Hopefully it can knit together for Chelsea and we can get a good start.
"It's been a long summer. The time off dragged on a bit and I'm itching to get going."
In spite of a minor thigh injury, Brady's productive pre-season campaign has seen him rack up over four hours of football as the 21-year-old has been deployed as a left wing-back, left winger and a withdrawn centre-forward.
And while that offers no guarantees of a start at Chelsea, his versatility is certain to work in his favour.
"It'll be tough. We've got a lot of good players and a lot of players in the same positions," he said.
"It'll be neck and neck but that should keep everyone on their toes.
"I don't mind where I play. I like playing as a forward, that's where I began, but I enjoyed playing left wing-back last season too.
"Hopefully being able to play in a couple of positions gives me a little edge.
"Everyone's just trying to get minutes under their belts for a couple of weeks' time. It's been a tough pre-season but we're all benefiting from it."
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