'He has been unlucky' - EFL pundit leaps to the defence of Sheffield Wednesday striker Jordan Rhodes

That is the opinion of well-respected TV pundit Don Goodman.

Rhodes, a prolific marksman at Huddersfield Town and Blackburn Rovers, has struggled to find the back of the net on a consistent basis in the past three and a half years.

He flopped at Middlesbrough and found it difficult to rediscover his mojo in front of goal after moving to Hillsborough in a club-record £8m deal in February 2017.

Rhodes spent last season on loan at Norwich City and chipped in with nine goals but largely played second fiddle to Teemu Pukki in attack.

The striker returned to Wednesday in the summer and his Owls career looked in serious doubt when boss Garry Monk left him out of the matchday squad on multiple occasions in November.

But Rhodes battled his way back into Monk’s plans and netted a stunning hat-trick in their extraordinary 4-0 victory away to Nottingham Forest last weekend.

Goodman, speaking on Sky Sports EFL podcast, said: “I think Jordan has been a little bit unlucky.

“He is a goal-scorer.

“He has made moves to clubs where perhaps he found himself in the wrong place at the wrong time and playing in the wrong style and system.

“He hasn't fit in to some of the clubs that he has been at for style of play.”

Rhodes ended his 20-month wait for an Owls goal with a treble at the City Ground to help Monk’s troops extend their unbeaten run to five matches.

Goodman has been impressed with fifth-placed Wednesday this term.

"If they don't have points deducted, I would tip Sheffield Wednesday to be a top six certainty almost based on what I have seen," he said.

“I have been very, very impressed with them.

“They have got Barry Bannan pulling the strings (in midfield), they are very solid defensively and Steven Fletcher is on fire and now Jordan Rhodes is chipping in.

“That will do his confidence just the most remarkable power of good.

"If Sheffield Wednesday can keep Fletcher and Rhodes scoring, they are going to be a force to be reckoned with”