The on-loan Sheffield Wednesday striker is banging in the goals for Derby County.
Three goals in two games for Sam Winnall have caused Sheffield Wednesday fans to wonder why they ever loaned him to Derby County in the first place.
Winnall only moved to Wednesday from Barnsley in January, at a cost of around £500,000 [Transfermarkt], but was behind Owls trio Gary Hooper, Steven Fletcher and Jordan Rhodes at the time of his temporary switch to Pride Park.
Rumours of training ground indiscipline appeared to leave Wednesday little option but to banish the 26-year-old, however bad that decision looks now.
But has anyone stopped to think that Winnall banging in goals for Derby County could still spell good news for Sheffield Wednesday?
Because as things stand, the former Wolves striker will return to Hillsborough next summer and should, at this rate, come back a better player – and with a higher reputation – than the one who left two months ago.
And with no clause to take Winnall to Pride Park permanently – an option Wednesday have with Jacob Butterfield, who moved in the opposite direction – the Owls should have a decision on their hands: either reintegrate him into their side, or sell him on at a significant profit, having exploited his Barnsley contract to sign him for far below the going rate.
For a side with well documented concerns about financial fair play, the latter option could come as a timely boost.
With five goals this season already, will the Derby loan star outscore the strikers he left behind at Wednesday?
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