Goalkeeper Andrés Fernández looking to stop ‘unique’ Super Eagles striker

The Spaniard has been one of the key reasons why Huesca boast the joint-third best defence in the Segunda Division

Huesca’s goalkeeper Andrés Fernández has hailed Nigerian striker Umar Sadiq as an exceptional player ahead of his side’s league clash against Almeria on Sunday.

Almeria, the Segunda Division’s second-best attack, make the trip to the Estadio El Alcoraz to face Huesca, boasting the league’s third stingiest defence in a matchday 34 tie.

35-year-old Fernández has been influential for Huesca this term as he has played every minute of their 33 league games so far, conceding just 31 goals and keeping 16 clean sheets.

The Spanish shot-stopper, who has kept a clean sheet in Huesca’s last four home matches, could face the most formidable challenge of the season when Almeria arrive on Sunday with the second-tier’s most valuable player in Sadiq.

The former AS Roma striker has contributed 25 goals (15 goals, 10 assists) in only 27 games to highlight the nightmares he has caused for several defenders and goalkeepers.

Fernández admits that Sadiq is a difference-maker, but the former Villarreal goalie is convinced that Huesca has enough quality to keep the 25-year-old quiet on match day.

“Sadiq is a unique player; the numbers say so,” Fernández said, as per SD Huesca.

“It forces you to be very attentive, to have help from your teammates, and the team is quite supportive in that. (We have) enough tools to be able to put up a good match against him.”

Sadiq was scarcely used over the international break. He featured for only a few minutes as the Super Eagles played two listless draws against Ghana to lose out on Qatar 2022 on the away goal rule.

The ex-Partizan forward is expected back in Almeria on Thursday and could join his teammates in training on Friday.