Yahoo News Stoke City old boy 'a snip at £20m' as he finds goal trail in Premier League
Liam Delap made it three goals so far in the Premier League this season with a double that helped Ipswich Town to a draw with Aston Villa.
The 21-year-old striker is showing his potential after a permanent move to Ipswich from Manchester City, from whom he had joined Stoke City on loan just two years ago. He was a young player in high demand then and a great story at Stoke thanks to the legend status of his dad Rory, who was then club coach - but he was sent back mid-way through the season by Alex Neil, who had replaced Michael O'Neill late in the summer, after Delap Sr had been asked to leave.
Delap Jr went on to spend the second half of that season at Preston North End, insisting at the time he had learned a lot from his first year in senior football, then showed signs of progress last term on loan at Hull. Now he is looking at home in the top flight and 'a snip at £20 million'.
READ MORE:Stoke City hot prospect makes it hat-trick as loan side challenge at top
Jamie Redknapp, on Sky Sports duty, said: “He terrorised Diego Carlos all game. He couldn’t live with his power, skill and this finishing. £20m from Manchester City looks like a real snip now. I know he only had Haaland to compete with… but you can see what he’s doing now and to get out and play regularly, you can see in the Premier League he looks so at home. They are great goals, both of them.”
Former Premier League keeper Mark Schwarzer, watching on for BBC Radio 5 Live, had the same opinion.
He said: "Villa struggled with Liam Delap. He bullied them all game and his run down the left side when he scored the second goal was excellent. Ipswich were great they did not give up and Villa took their foot off the pedal. Villa didn't really go for it enough. Ipswich want to get on a run and this place has to become a fortress. They never gave up and they were unlucky to not get more out of this game."
Ipswich are still searching for their first win but have only been beaten twice in their opening six games back up in the big time.
Delap said: "It was really good and we showed what we are about from minute one and we created so many chances. It was a really good result for us and we probably deserved the win after the second half performance. I think it’s the fourth time we’ve got something from a game so we are happy."
Boss Kieran McKenna added: "It was another good day for Liam Delap, he does really well and he takes a lot of credit. But the team at 2-1 down never dropped their heads and we were always competitive in the game.
"I think there's loads to come [from Delap], I still don't think fitness-wise he is anywhere near the level he can get to after a big injury at the end of last season. The impact he has had and all-round play, and to have so much growth left in him, we are really happy to have him here."
