Sheffield Wednesday: Jos Luhukay heaps praise on Owls star Fernando Forestieri

Manager Jos Luhukay has paid tribute to Fernando Forestieri following the forward's sparkling performance in Wednesday's entertaining home draw to West Bromwich Albion.
Fernando Forestieri hit his third goal of the season in Sheffield Wednesday's home draw with WBAFernando Forestieri hit his third goal of the season in Sheffield Wednesday's home draw with WBA
Fernando Forestieri hit his third goal of the season in Sheffield Wednesday's home draw with WBA

Forestieri was a constant thorn in the Baggies side and bagged the Owls' second goal, coolly firing home from close range after WBA failed to deal effectively with a Matt Penney cross.

It was Forestieri's third goal of a stop-start campaign.

Luhukay told The Star: "I think that was the best Fernando has played (this season).

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"He showed high energy in the 90 minutes. He was always dangerous in the offensive moments and he scored a good goal.

"He was a positive in the game."

The Argentine-born player wasted a gilt-edged opportunity to put Wednesday three nil up in the second half when he caught Ahmed Hegazi napping at the back. But Forestieri, who recently served a three-match suspension, side-footed wide with only goalkeeper Sam Johnstone to beat.

Despite watching his players surrender a two-goal advantage against WBA, Luhukay was encouraged by their performance.

He said: "I was proud of my team in the first half. It is not easy for us to replace Barry Bannan but I think the players played with trust and confidence.

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"But I know if Barry had been there, it would have been a different situation for us. Barry could have helped us in the second half and maybe given us the rests on the ball so we could have done more in the attacking transitions.

"I think the team can take credit from the way they played but at the end everyone was disappointed we didn't get the three points."

Defender Ash Baker (leg) faces a spell on the sidelines. The Wales Under-21 international suffered the problem in Friday's stalemate with Leeds.

Forestieri said: "The risk was too high to play Ash.  It may be some weeks that he cannot play for us."

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