Former Sheffield Wednesday forward Gary Hooper returns to UK after New Zealand heartbreak

The New Zealand experience of former Sheffield Wednesday striker Gary Hooper is over – for the meantime at least – after a season-ending injury saw him ruled out of Wellington Phoenix’s title tilt.
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Hooper, 32, left S6 for a new venture last summer and signed on as Phoenix’s marquee players on a one-year deal in October.

The former Celtic man scored eight goals in 21 matches, firing the Kiwi club to the A-League finals that start this week. But he won’t play a part after a hamstring injury ruled him out of any further part in the season.

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He is understood to have flown back to England having spent two months isolating with teammates and staff in Sydney due to Australian regulations regarding the coronavirus crisis. All players, including Hooper, have been away from family in that time.

Former Sheffield Wednesday forward Gary Hooper has returned to the UK following his time in New Zealand.Former Sheffield Wednesday forward Gary Hooper has returned to the UK following his time in New Zealand.
Former Sheffield Wednesday forward Gary Hooper has returned to the UK following his time in New Zealand.

It is looking increasingly likely that these regulations will still be in place when the A-League restarts sometime around December, prompting speculation down under that he will return in search of a UK club despite assurances he will consider another stint in New Zealand.

There are also doubts around whether Phoenix would be able to afford the forward, with their wage budget set to nosedive in the wake of the pandemic.

Sheffield Wednesday are not linked with any return for Hooper, who does not fit the profile Garry Monk is looking for and would likely not fit into their wage plans.

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But having proven his fitness down under, it may well be that a return to these shores is on the cards.

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