"It was very frustrating" - Sheffield Wednesday striker gives honest assessment of Garry Monk reign

The Owls forward, who found chances limited under sacked manager Garry Monk, spoke in the lead up to Pulis’ first match as Wednesday boss at Preston this weekend in what was his first media appearance in well over a year.

Rhodes scored in the club’s opening day win at Cardiff but has started only one league match since, failing to register a shot on target in his four subsequent cameo appearances from the bench.

Asked how he will remember life under Monk, Rhodes was honest, describing periods as some of the toughest he has faced in football.

While he says he maintained a positive personal relationship with his former manager, he gave an honest account of his experience under Monk.

“It was very frustrating,” he told The Star. “I won’t make any bones about that, as a footballer you want to play 90 minutes week-in, week-out.

“Not being able to do that was frustrating and I’m well within my rights to say so. Footballers are desperate to play every minute. Obviously that’s not possible and that’s why you have squads of 25 or whatever.

“Now there’s a new manager in charge, there are possibilities for everybody so now it’s over to us to be ready and to try and take it.

“He’s a nice man, he was fair to me in the things that he did say.

“But I kept as fit as possible and I was desperate to do well.

“It’s unfortunate that people do lose their jobs in this industry with their family and friends, but that’s the nature of the industry.”

Wednesday have scored only two goals from open play this season. The only team to have scored fewer goals are rock bottom Derby County and Rhodes intimated Monk’s set-up may have contributed to their struggles.

“I think there are a number of variables,” Rhodes said. “Possibly the formations and the way we’ve lined up in games before, who knows?

“Now’s the chance to be as offensive as possible and to create as many chances and keep the ball out of the net, that’s the recipe for football, it was 100 years ago and it will be 100 years into the future, if you can create more chances than the ones you concede then you’re going to be alright.

“We’ll be trying our best to keep the door closed at one end, but to be as expansive as possible at the other.”

On whether a shift to a cross-heavy style of play might get the best out of him, the striker said: “I’d like to think that suits me, it’s suited me in the past.

“There’s a different avenue and if chances come along a different line then it’s up to me to adapt to different situations.

“We’ve got players in the team that are really good crosses of the ball. If that’s what the manager demands, to put the ball in the box, then it’s up to me and the other strikers to try and get on the end of them and create chances and shots on targets. The onus then comes on us as strikers.”

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