Fresh start gives Owls striker the opening to blossom

SHEFFIELD Wednesday striker Gary Madine is on the road to stardom, according to manager Gary Megson, after vowing to clean up his act off the pitch.

Madine, who joined the Owls in an £800,000 deal from Carlisle United last month, is currently serving 250 hours of community work over an assault in a Carlisle pub 12 months ago.

He was back in the dock two weeks ago for breaching his court order but agreed to work with the South Yorkshire Probation Service and complete his sentence within the next 12 months.

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Still only 20, Madine will return to Carlisle for the first time as an opposition player tomorrow and is likely to get a mixed reception from supporters at Brunton Park.

The Gateshead-born striker scored 22 goals in 39 starts for the Cumbrians and has bagged three goals in six starts so far for the Owls.

“Potentially, he has everything – size, touch, and goals – but he needs to get better and will do because he is only a young lad,” said Megson yesterday. “He has a good chance of having a really good career in football if he sorts one or two things out off the field. We have spoken to him about that and the type of things he is doing on the field are now improving.”

Madine admits to mistakes in the past but says his move to Hillsborough is a reward for improvements both on and off the field.

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“I had a bit of a bad record off the field but now we are talking about what I do on the pitch,” said Madine. “I was wasting what I had and I knew that I had to knuckle down if I was going to make it as a footballer. I hold my hands up and I know I have done wrong but I’ve learned from my mistakes and hope people will forgive and forget.

“I have knuckled down and got my rewards in moving to Sheffield Wednesday,” he added. “It is a massive club with the best squad in this division. We have a big gap to make up (in terms of points) but if we start playing to the best of our ability there is no reason why we still can’t make the play-offs.”

The Owls have gone 10 games without a victory in League One but returned from a tough looking trip to second-placed Bournemouth with a point in midweek. With 16 games left to play this season, the Owls are 12 points adrift of the top six and seven points clear of the relegation zone.

“Hopefully, we have turned the corner,” said Madine. “We looked solid at the back on Tuesday and everyone wanted the ball. We were also a louder side because the gaffer had mentioned the fact that we have been pretty quiet

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“I am looking forward to going back to Carlisle this weekend. I had some of the best and some of the worst times of my life up there. I don’t mind admitting that I had a little tear in my eye when I had to say goodbye.”

So what does he intend to do if he scores?

“It depends on the reception I get,” he admitted. “Hopefully, I will get a good reception. If not, that’s football. If they are alright with me, I can be alright with them. But if they decide that they don’t care about what I did for them, I will celebrate as if it is my first goal.”

Madine, who stands 6ft 3ins, has been compared in style to Liverpool and England striker Andy Carroll by some observers, including Huddersfield Town manager Lee Clark. Megson feels Madine can also look to former Bolton Wanderers striker Kevin Davies for inspiration.

Madine is in fact a lifelong Newcastle supporter and Carroll remains his ‘favourite’ player, despite his recent £35m transfer to Liverpool.

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“To be mentioned in the same breath as those players gives me confidence,” he said. “I am not as stocky as Andy Carroll yet and I know I need to beef up. The gaffer worked with Kevin Davies, who is a Premier League player, and if he likens me to him, hopefully, he can push me on and up. I am quite a confident lad but to hear comparisons like that is another boost.”

With Madine’s current form in mind, Megson yesterday ruled out a move for West Ham’s out-of-favour striker Benni McCarthy.

The former South African international, 33, and team-mate Herita Ilunga had been suggested by chief executive Paul Aldridge who use to work at the Hammers.

“We heard there was a possibility of maybe getting McCarthy or Ilonga but I don’t think the McCarthy one will happen now,” said Megson.

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“Paul Aldridge has got good connections at West Ham. He came up with this information.

“We are looking all over the show to get players in who will make us better. There are not many, coming towards the end of February, who fall into the category we want – good, affordable players who are available to make us better. It is not exactly the right time to bring players in, but we are trying.”

Megson, meanwhile, revealed that Jamaican international winger Jermaine Johnson is now back in light training with the Owls after spending several days in hospital last week nursing a mystery illness.

“There was nothing sinister but he asked us to keep it private and we have to respect his wishes,” Megson said. “He is getting better. He is back in light training now and he will step it up next week.”

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