Jordan Rhodes confident Sheffield Wednesday can rebound after inernational break

Tonight’s friendly against Canada is followed by a World Cup qualifier against Slovenia at Hampden Park on Sunday and Gordon Strachan has hinted the striker could be involved in at least one of those fixtures.

If that proves to be the case, Rhodes’s appearance will be his first in front of the Tartan Army since coming off the bench in a 6-1 home win over Gibraltar on March 29, 2015.

“It is nice to be with Scotland for what will be two tough games,” said the 27-year-old ahead of a possible reunion tonight with former Huddersfield Town team-mate Scott Arfield.

“Who knows what the teams will be? But it would be nice to be part of it. The manager has an array of strikers to choose from so, I guess, I just have to work as hard as I can on the training pitch and, if selected, give it my all.”

Rhodes is joined in the Scotland squad by Wednesday team-mates Steven Fletcher and Barry Bannan.

“The last squad (I was involved in) was when Fletcher got a really good goal against Poland,” said the striker.

“I was saying to him the other day that that was my last squad. If Fletch plays, I will be cheering him on and it is nice to have familiar faces like Fletch, plus lads like Grant Hanley and Tom Cairney from my time at Blackburn.”

Rhodes may be enjoying being back in the international fold but thoughts of Hillsborough and the Owls’ promotion push are never far away.

Last Friday’s home defeat to Reading was a blow, though one alleviated slightly by Fulham being surprisingly beaten at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers the following afternoon.

Wolves’ triumph in west London meant Carlos Carvalhal’s side headed into the two-week international break still occupying a play-off place.

“We were unfortunate against Reading,” added Rhodes.

“We did everything right, apart from the ball crossing the line. It was one of those frustrating nights, the equaliser wouldn’t come and then we went gung-ho at the end for their second goal.

“These things happen. I felt we played all right and were up against a goalkeeper who made some good saves. We all had a bit of a go but it was just one of those nights.

“You could see by the spectators’ reaction how we played. As we went round the pitch at the end, there were still people there clapping us. That is always good to know, as players, because we worked really hard. We gave it a right good go but it was one of those nights.”

Wednesday may have been unfortunate to lose against the Royals after creating a host of chances only to be denied by Ali Al Habsi in the visitors’ goal.

But the defeat, nevertheless, was their fourth in a six-game run that has yielded just four points.

This dip in form has set the alarm bells ringing among a support base desperate to return to the Premier League after missing out in such heartbreaking fashion last May in the play-off final.

“We go again,” said Rhodes, who has netted three times since joining on loan from Middlesbrough.

“We can take heart from how we played against Reading – plus, there is lots of football to be played so we just have to keep going.

“It is a two-week break now (from the Championship) and whether that is welcome or not, it is what it is. There is no getting round it.

“I guess the break will be a time to reflect and dust ourselves down. Get rid of whatever bumps and bruises we do have. Then, the squad can regroup and be ready to come out of the blocks against Barnsley (on April 1) in a local derby.”