Wednesday 
may remain in danger by being a striker light

The lack of goals at Hillsborough has been a constant problem for Wednesday with manager Dave Jones admitting last weekend he was finding it hard to find a solution given the Owls’ financial predicament.

Jones has to move players out before he can bring anyone in.

Waddle, a favourite son of the Wednesday faithful who has been a regular at games this season, has seen enough to convince him that the club he once inspired to two Cup finals has the organisational capability to remain competitive in the Championship.

But whether they climb toward mid-table security in the remaining months, or stay entrenched in a relegation battle, hinges on Jones’s ability to find a goalscorer.

“If they can get a guy who can put the ball in the back of the net then they’ll be okay,” said the 52-year-old, who played for four seasons at Hillsborough.

“They’re probably that out-and-out striker short, but how many teams are saying that?

“There are a lot of strikers at the club. Gary Madine was excellent last season but hasn’t replicated that. Mamady Sidibe was brought in on loan but he’s never been a big scorer of goals. Rodri is probably the most natural goalscorer but he doesn’t really fit in to the way Dave Jones plays.

“What Wednesday need is a Kevin Phillips type player, that fox in the box. But until they get somebody like that they’re in for a battle.”

Winger Michail Antonio is the Owls’ top scorer in the League with just five goals, while Chris O’Grady is the striker to have found the net most in the Championship with four.

Nevertheless, Waddle has been impressed by the progress the Owls have made after struggling to adapt early on in the season.

“You have to remember that a lot of this squad is the one that played in League One last season,” he said.

“I think everybody believes that if they can finish mid-table this season then they can build on that next time.

“They’ve picked up recently. From the games I have seen they’re competitive. They are organised and hard to beat. I would say there’s only really been Leicester City who were miles ahead of them.”