It seems to be the season for scorers from the second tier. Charlie Austin, who helped Queens Park Rangers win promotion last year, has delivered six Premier League goals. So, too has Diafra Sakho, named Ligue 2 Player of the Year for his efforts with Metz, before he scored on each of his first six West Ham starts.
Completing a trio of attacking talents who have made a swift adjustment to a higher stage is Ayoze Perez, Newcastle’s 21-year-old newcomer who has scored in his past three league games. It is bringing recognition in England, to accompany the accolades from his native Spain.
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Last month, he won both the Breakthrough Player and Best Attacking Midfielder prizes at the Segunda Division awards. It was a reflection of his excellence for Tenerife, his hometown club.
If the Canary Islands did not tend to be known for producing professional footballers, that may have changed with the emergence of Juan Carlos Valeron and David Silva. Where Perez differs from the playmakers is that he is more prolific, scoring 16 times last season before finishing coolly against Tottenham, Liverpool and West Brom.
The surprise is that he is at Newcastle. He had nearer and more glamorous options.
“There was interest from Barca and Real Madrid,” he said at the Segunda Division awards ceremony. “It’s true the Newcastle bid was quite surprising because there were other teams interested but they pushed very hard to get me.
“We had to consider different options and I finally decided to come to Newcastle. I’ve always loved the Premier League but the main reason was how the club valued me.”
Manager Alan Pardew, who felt Newcastle’s regular home crowds of 50,000 accounted for Perez’s choice, highlighted another of Perez’s suitors, a Portuguese club with a reputation for identifying and improving young talent.
“He was courted by some big clubs, in particular Porto, and Porto don’t sign anyone unless they are a good player,” Pardew said two weeks ago. “That underlined what we have seen and he has been a great buy for us.”
Perhaps it helped that Perez did not move to England alone. Older brother Samuel came with him and joined non-league Blyth Spartans’ squad. The younger sibling was initially a substitute, although his ability was not in doubt. Questions instead surrounded his aptitude for the Premier League.
“We thought his physicality could be an issue but he has such technical quality you hope it will see you through and it has,” Pardew said.
Circumstances then propelled Perez to prominence.
Emmanuel Riviere, who was supposed to be the summer’s major striking signing, has yet to find the net in the Premier League. Papiss Cisse made a swift and dramatic return from a broken kneecap, scoring twice against Hull and Swansea, but has been unable to play every game.
When he was a late withdrawal at White Hart Lane, Perez came in and headed in the decider. Then followed an opportunistic finish against Liverpool and a lovely, back-heeled flick versus West Brom.
Three games and three goals have shown the man from the second division is first class. He will look to continue that run at home to Queens Park Rangers on Saturday.
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