There was no doubt about the star of the thrashing that ended in a 6–0 victory for the Huhkajis over San Marino: he came on as a substitute and completed the hat trick in less than a quarter of an hour Daniel Håkans showed in front of a full Olympic Stadium that he will fight for a place in the Huuhkajie lineup in the future as well.
The performance did not leave anyone cold, but many in the home stands must have wondered who the 22-year-old super substitute who made his A national team debut against Slovenia is.
The Vasa IFK graduate represents the Norwegian side Vålerenga, where he moved in the winter for a transfer amount of 370,000–400,000 euros, according to the Norwegian media. In Norway, Håkans also had time to represent FK Jervi, but on the home fields he is remembered for his SJK shirt.
– Already in the Veikkausliiga, he played a couple of strong seasons and was then transferred to the Norwegian league. In Norway, he has really made his breakthrough. The national league suits his strengths really well, they play quite straightforward and fast-paced football, Urheilu’s expert Miika Nuutinen background.
Nuutinen describes Håkans as a very fast-paced pier, the speed of which is well enough for an international level.
However, that has not always been the case.
In an interview with Ilkka-Pohjalainen Håkans described during the EC qualifying matches that he was small and slow as a junior.
In the ranks of Vålerenga, Håkans has scored three goals and provided one assist in nine matches this season. The club team, on the other hand, has not fared as well: the club, stuck in 13th place in the 16-team league, recently fired its head coach.
Carried good news
The head coach was also excited by the excellent performances Markku Kanervan interest. Finally, a screen slot opened up when Kanerva’s credit player Robin Lod had knee surgery and is sidelined for a long time.
Håkans was grateful for the opportunity and on Monday put up such displays that one would think playing time will continue to come.
– Even though the opponent was San Marino, the screens matter. When Finland goes to play matches that it does not control so sovereignly, Håkans is a usable player. The team’s DNA is to attack quickly: the bigger the spaces, the more Håkans can get out of it, Nuutinen reminded.
Håkans made his debut in the national team in the 65th minute in Friday’s match against Slovenia. According to Nuutinen, there has been a message from the Finnish camp all week that Håkans has been very good in training.
– It was expected that he got the opportunity. The entrance was just as charming and he got to show off his strengths. The Finnish national team has a delicious situation because for a long time it has clear wing types, such as Oliver Antman and Håkans.
Nuutinen considers the problem only positive: it seems that whenever Kanerva trusts a young player, he rushes into the team and plays to his strengths.
– He is ready from the first minutes and performs bravely on the field, Nuutinen sums up.
Finland has very few players in Europe’s five biggest leagues (England, Italy, Spain, Germany and France).
They got to play in the leagues in the season that ended Lukas Hradecky, Fredrik Jensen, Jere Uronen, Niklas Pyyhtiä and Naatan Skytt. The first two of them in Germany, Pyyhtiä in Italy and Skytä in France. Uronen, on the other hand, played in the main leagues of both Germany and France.
However, according to Nuutinen, Antman and Håkans have a significant factor that will take them to the top leagues if everything goes well.
– They have really clear strengths and their physical characteristics are at the highest international level. If the development continues and they get minutes, it can be assumed that Håkanski will get to the tougher circles than the Norwegian series very soon.