Sheffield Wednesday forwards finally back in tandem

Sheffield Wednesday’s new-look strike pairing are hardly strangers.
Owls striker: Jordan Rhodes. Picture: Steve EllisOwls striker: Jordan Rhodes. Picture: Steve Ellis
Owls striker: Jordan Rhodes. Picture: Steve Ellis

For Connor Wickham and Jordan Rhodes have known each other for over a decade after starting their careers as teenagers together at Ipswich Town.

The duo have taken differing career paths in arriving at Hillsborough, but Wickham – at 27, three years younger than Rhodes – is a big fan of his strike partner.

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A club record signing in 2017 from Middlesbrough, Rhodes has struggled and started just 22 league games since his loan spell at Hillsborough was made permanent.

But given a chance by Owls manager Garry Monk on Saturday, Rhodes was unlucky not to score – his second-half header hit the post – before Wickham grabbed a late equaliser.

“Jordan has worked incredibly hard since I have been here,” said Wickham. “He hasn’t been involved, but he has been the ultimate professional in everything he has done.

“You can see the quality he possesses, on the pitch. But as with all strikers, it’s that sharpness, that killer instinct.

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“I have known Jordan since I was 15-year-old at Ipswich, and I know what he is capable of.”

Wickham is one of several loan players whose contracts expire at the end of the month, but talks on extending his stay should be finalised this week.

“I think there has been contact, we just wanted to get this first game out of the way,” said Wickham. “I think they will continue to talk over the weekend and we will see what happens next week.”

As for the Forest result, Monk thought his side deserved at least a point.

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“I was very pleased with that performance, a lot of it was very pleasing and it was the least we deserved,” he said.

“I thought it was a quite dominant performance against a very good side.”

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