"Back from the dead": The messages written on Sheffield Wednesday hat-trick hero Jordan Rhodes' matchball after perfect treble against Nottingham Forest

Grinning from ear to ear, hat-trick hero Jordan Rhodes clutches the matchball.

By Liam Norcliffe

Published 15th Dec 2019, 14:06 BST

Updated 15th Dec 2019, 14:06 BST

Hat-trick hero Jordan Rhodes holds onto the match ball. Picture: Steve Ellis

The 29-year-old notched three goals in the first-half against Nottingham Forest as Sheffield Wednesday ran out 4-0 winners on Saturday.

It was his 12th hat-trick of his career, but the goals were Rhodes’ first of the season.

The striker was making just his second start of the campaign, after finding himself behind Steven Fletcher and Atdhe Nuhiu in Wednesday’s striker ranks.

Rhodes’ Wednesday career has not really got going since signing in January 2017, and he was loaned out to Norwich City last season.

But hopes are high now that The Owls will finally see the best of their £8m record signing.

The forward has rightly come in for a lot of praise following his superb performance yesterday.

And his Wednesday teammate Massimo Luongo shared a joke with Rhodes when he wrote on his hat-trick matchball: “Back from the dead” and “well done undertaker!”