Sheffield Wednesday’s new centre-forward scored for fun with Barnsley and Scunthorpe United – but he was never given a chance at Molineux.
If Wolves realise that they made a mistake allowing Sam Vokes to leave after barely giving him a chance, then another of their former young pups could add to the regret.
Sam Winnall may not have played a part in two Championship promotion winning campaigns or scored a soaring header at the Euro 2016 but, one things for sure, he is an established second tier centre-forward these days.
After helping Barnsley punch above their weight in the top half of the league with 11 goals to his name, the 25-year-old has earned himself a mid-season move to Sheffield Wednesday, quadrupling his wage for good measure, according to The Sun.
Therefore, Wolves could be forgiven for looking back on their decision not to renew his contract in 2013 with a great deal of regret.
Winnall was handed just one senior appearance for the first-team but, in the three and a half seasons since his release, has found the net 66 times in 145 games, spearheading Scunthorpe’s promotion from League Two before repeating the trick with Barnsley last season in the third tier.
Meanwhile, in his first six months at Championship level, the Wolverhampton-born forward has comfortably outscored each and every player in Paul Lambert’s squad. In fact, he’s grabbed more goals on his own than Jon Dadi Bodvarsson, Nouha Dicko, Joe Mason and Ivan Cavaleiro have managed in a combined 71 appearances.
Yeah, you could say Wolves wish they could turn back the clock. They certainly wouldn’t be scrapping at the wrong end of the table with Vokes and Winnall leading the line.
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