Big money for Canadian striker

Canadian international Iain Hume will join 2008 FA Cup Cinderella Barnsley, after being purchased for $2.5 million CDN.

Hume has been a regular scorer in the English second tier for the past few years and became available after his previous team, Leicester, was relegated to League 1 (third tier) this season.

Although a bit undersized, Hume has been successful at every level he has played at and has become a loyal warrior for the Canadian national team. As a teenager, he was a major contributor to Canada's quarterfinal berth at the 2003 FIFA u-20 tournament (Hume came close to sending Canada to the semis when hit the post late in regulation in a 1-1 tie with Spain. The Spaniards went on to win on a golden goal).


He also scored Canada's only goal in a controversial 2-1 loss to the US in last year's North American championships (The Gold Cup).

It's a good move for Hume and good news for the Canadian national team. Gone are the days when playing in the English third tier was good enough to be a contributer for the nats. Although he will likely be a bench player, his speed and tenacity make him a perfect 70th minute sub. Had he spent the year playing in League 1, it's unclear whether he would have been able to maintain his form.

Staying in the Championship also keeps Hume's faint hope of playing in the EPL alive (although he has pretty much been labeled a Championship player at this point of his career--he's 24)