Three games, no minutes – Why Jordan Rhodes has been left on Sheffield Wednesday’s bench by Garry Monk
Jordan Rhodes’ Sheffield Wednesday hattrick against Nottingham Forest seems a long time ago – it’s been 215 days exactly – but what is the latest reason for his Owls omission by Garry Monk?
The 30-year-old forward started three games on the bounce for SWFC after the Championship got back underway last month, and was a late substitute in the fourth game as he came on in the defeat to Swansea.
Now though, after remaining on the bench for the games against Preston North End, Queens Park Rangers and Huddersfield Town, Monk was asked why Jacob Murphy was played ahead of him in the 0-0 draw on Tuesday evening.
Monk replied, “In the last two games our pace has been a big weapon for us and we’ve tried to use that, and Atdhe’s physical presence, but Jordan's not done anything wrong - it’s just about trying to select how we think we can go with the game, you know.
"The plan would have worked if one of those had gone in the first half, they would have become stretched and that pace would’ve hurt them.
"It's just about selecting a team at this moment. I'm just trying to select the right team to do the game-plan and win the game.”
Rhodes has got 13 goals in 74 games for Wednesday in total – including his loan spell prior to his permanent move to Hillsborough – and there remain questions over whether he’ll still be a part of Monk’s plans for 2020/21 as he looks to revitalise the Owls for the new campaign.
