Jordan Rhodes on kick-starting his Sheffield Wednesday career under new boss Tony Pulis

Sheffield Wednesday striker Jordan Rhodes is relishing the chance to impress Tony Pulis and hopes the arrival of the new manager will help to kick-start his career at Hillsborough.
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The 30-year-old former Huddersfield Town, Blackburn Rovers and Middlesbrough forward was unable to command a regular place in former Owls boss Garry Monk’s matchday XI – starting only two games so far this season.

But now Rhodes – who has bagged nine goals in 53 appearances since joining the Hillsborough outfit in a permanent deal in the summer of 2017 – could be handed a lifeline by Pulis after falling down the pecking order following the arrivals of Callum Paterson, Jack Marriott and Elias Kachunga.

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He scored just four goals in Monk’s 14-month tenure at Wednesday.

However, speaking to the media ahead of tomorrow’s trip to Preston North End, the £8m man believes the 62-year-old former West Bromwich Albion and Stoke City manager’s arrival at S6 provides him with a clean slate and the chance to put an end to his stop-start career at the club.

"On a personal note, yes it does,” said Rhodes. “It’s a new set eyes and new people to impress, so the hard work has started.”

Rhodes has also been an unused substitute in three of the last four games and has played just 182 minutes in the league this season but hasn’t given up hope of replicating the goalscoring form he produced at his previous clubs and believes he has the ability to be a 20-goal-a-season striker under Pulis – who he describes as a ‘winner’.

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“It’s new challenges, it’s possibilities and it’s one that I’m looking forward to and trying to get myself in the best possible condition to try and impress,” he said.

Sheffield Wednesday striker Jordan Rhodes. Photo: Steve EllisSheffield Wednesday striker Jordan Rhodes. Photo: Steve Ellis
Sheffield Wednesday striker Jordan Rhodes. Photo: Steve Ellis

"The top and bottom of it is, the manager is a winner and he wants winners in his team.

"He wants people working for him, he wants people that will do their utmost for the team – and that’s what his ethos is and what it’s been about up until now.

"I think going forward, as players we just have to continue the hard work that we’ve done in games before and do as well as we can in each and every game.”