Lee Bullen has revealed that opposition managers are always complaining about the Sheffield Wednesday striker Atdhe Nuhiu.
Nuhiu scored Wednesday’s winner against Rotherham United last night, striking in the sixth minute of second-half stoppage time.
The Kosovan’s goal, which followed an impressive cameo against Preston North End at the weekend, serves as yet another two-fingered salute to the Owls fans who continue to criticise his efforts.
And Bullen told BBC Radio Sheffield afterwards: “I don’t know why people have that sort of love-hate relationship with the big man. He’s so effective.
“Every single coach… I was speaking to (the Preston boss) Alex Neil on Saturday. He said, that big – I was going to say lump – that big guy, he just causes absolute mayhem every time he goes on and he’s done it again there, tonight.
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“Listen, he knows his limitations and that’s important for any player. But he also knows his strengths and he’s got such a strong mentality.
“Because people question him and knock him down every time but he’s been here seven years, he’s got so many appearances for the club, he loves the football club and there again he’s the man who pops up with the goal in the 94th, 95th minute, whatever.
“The lads love him to bits, they love having him around and he can be so effective. So I’m glad for the big man that he got that tonight.”
Nuhiu’s latest goal was his 10th in 14 cup starts for Sheffield Wednesday and 44th overall.
The 30-year-old, like his fellow Owls forwards Steven Fletcher, Fernando Forestieri and Sam Winnall, is in the final year of his existing contract.
Bullen’s side’s reward for beating their local rivals is a visit from Premier League Everton in the EFL Cup third round.
The meeting of the two sides – who last locked horns at the same ground, at the same stage of the same competition in 2007 – is due to take place the week commencing 23 September.