'Frustratingly' - Sheffield Wednesday's on-loan Ipswich Town forward Ali Al-Hamadi addresses fitness struggle
Ipswich Town’s Ali Al-Hamadi has addressed his ‘stop-start’ period on loan at Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday’s on-loan Ipswich Town forward Ali Al-Hamadi has insisted he is working “as hard as ever” in his pursuit of full fitness.
The 24-year-old joined the Owls on loan in the summer transfer window having previously been sent out to Stoke City and Luton Town by his parent club.
He has since made eight appearances in League One but is yet to get off the mark and has faced injury problems of late.
There was no place for Al-Hamadi in the squad for last weekend’s clash with Blackpool, as then-caretaker boss Matt Hamshaw confirmed he could face a number of weeks out.
Ali Al-Hamadi on ‘stop-start’ period
Posting on social media platform X, the Iraq international said: “Frustratingly it has been stop-start the last few weeks for me personally. Working as hard as ever to stay on that pitch, help the team and reach our goals for this season.”
Al-Hamadi now has a new manager to impress, with Dave Challinor at the helm following the dismissal of Henrik Pedersen.
Challinor was officially unveiled yesterday (November 3) and addressed the media for the first time as Owls boss.
New era at Sheffield Wednesday
He said: “I won't say this isn't a League One club – on the football pitch it is – and it's our job to try and push it forward but everyone around football is saying off the field this is a Championship club.
“It's to do with history, fanbase, the size of the stadium and all those things. We have to make it a huge advantage for us.
“But on the pitch, that's where we are. We have to understand that and put things in place that allow us to move forward and be that club in the long term.”