To survive any relegation battle one needs to score goals -  a logic evident when Hull City signed Lokomotiv Moscow striker Dame N’Doye for an estimated £3million fee in the recent January transfer window.

The Tigers had previously recorded a spell of failing to score in 11 from 15 Premier League matches, seeing Steve Bruce’s side fall into the relegation zone, thus leading to N’Doye being signed just before the window closed.

Bruce was left delighted, explaining that players tend to be successful through possessing all the physical attributes necessary to adapt to life in the Premier League. The experienced manager conceded that he had noticed N’Doye more from promising signs representing his country, Senegal, than his form in the Russian league however.

At 29, signed on a two-and-a-half-year contract, N’Doye should be approaching the peak years of his career while aiding the Tigers in their attempts to stay in the Premier League.

The striker has certainly had a good start to his new life in England, scoring a valuable goal as City defeated relegation rivals Aston Villa 2-0 to consign their manager, Paul Lambert, to the sack.

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The goal-scoring form of N’Doye therefore already appears vital to Hull’s survival prospects, especially as their other forwards are currently out of sorts.

Nikica Jelavic and City’s record signing Abel Hernandez, both had promising starts this season, but in recent months appear to have largely lost a great deal of form and confidence.

Hull have simply had problems in attack ever since, though N’Doye provides another option with his physical presence and an aerial threat. The striker allows Steve Bruce to regularly establish a formation involving two strikers, giving City a better chance of improving their offensive record and eventually climbing out of the dreaded relegation zone.

N’Doye has seemingly shown the promise that got him signed in the first place, and given Hull are currently in the middle of a spell of fixtures against sides around them in the table, his impact could be pivotal in their final reckoning.

The striker has nonetheless had a nomadic club career, starting in Senegal with Jeanne d’Arc in 2003, before joining Qatari side Al-Sadd three seasons later. A year on the striker went to Portuguese team Academica de Coimbra, where he made 25 appearances, scoring four goals.

The air miles continued to build up as N’Doye’s career progressed, moving to Greek side Panathinaikos, but ultimately failing to notch an impressive goals to game ratios at any of these clubs.

At OFI Crete, N’Doye eventually found his scoring boots, scoring seven in 15 games, before making his name with an excellent spell at Danish side FC Copenhagen in January 2009.

82 goals in 150 appearances across all competitions was simply outstanding, including two goals in the Champions League group stage. These achievements helped Copenhagen make the last 16, becoming the first Danish side to manage such a feat, before being defeated by Chelsea.

Such form led to an impressive spell at Lokomotiv Moscow from 2012 onwards, notching 27 goals in 68 appearances before eventually moving to Hull.

N’Doye’s form also caught the eye of his national team from as early as 2010, leading to 34 Senegal caps to date including nine goals.

The striker nevertheless failed to score despite playing every match in their recent Africa Cup of Nations campaign, yet his pedigree still remains obvious. Hull fans will therefore hope it is enough to keep them in the Premier League for another successful season.

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