‘Max is a bit crazy in his head’: Rik De Mil enjoying working with former MK Dons and Leeds United striker | OneFootball

Max Dean is certainly a character. The 21-year-old English striker is never far from riling up a Belgian crowd. On Saturday, he did just that, scoring twice to earn Gent a vital 3-2 victory away against Charleroi. The win helps the Buffaloes in their quest for the top six, while also putting a dent in the chances of the Zebras pipping them to a spot.

Speaking on working with Dean, Rik De Mil was honest in how much he enjoys the striker’s personality. Speaking to HLN, De Mil said ‘Max is a bit crazy in his head, but in a good way. And that’s precisely his strength. I like that. I’ve been working with the guy for two months now. Max is someone who’s very open. If he’s not happy because he’s not playing, you’ll see it. ‘I don’t like that I don’t play much, but I do enjoy working with you’.

Dean joined Gent from MK Dons last summer and looked set for a great season before suffering a bad injury. The young English forward, who had come through the Leeds United academy, scored 13 goals in 30 games. So far this season he has been working his way back to full fitness. Thankfully, the side have been able to rely on former Cardiff City forward Wilfried Kanga. However, with Kanga having suffered an injury, Dean has been given a chance.

Dean has been taking his chance. While by no means as physically imposing as Kanga, Dean is still a workhorse and a pest for opposition defenders. He plays on the edge, which endears him to his own fans and paints him as a villain in the eyes of the opposition. Prior to leaving English football, Dean had bagged 19 goals in 34 games for MK Dons in League two. While there is certainly a big gap in quality between the fourth tier of English football and the top flight of Belgian football, Dean has transitioned seamlessly from scoring for MK Dons to scoring for Gent.

GBeNeFN | Ben Jackson