Sheffield Wednesday head coach Carlos Carvalhal has a striking conundrum on his hands.
Jon Newsome believes Fernando Forestieri should partner Jordan Rhodes up front for Sheffield Wednesday.
Rhodes arrived at Hillsborough in a loan-to-buy deal at the end of the January transfer window, which it is claimed could net former club Middlesbrough £8 million.
Said outlay would be a club-record for Wednesday, and is, according to former Owls defender Newsome, enough to make Rhodes – whose 91 Championship goals since the start of 2012-13 are more than any other player has managed – the first name on Carlos Carvalhal’s teamsheet.
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But when asked who he would select alongside the 27-year-old, Newsome told Sheffield Live TV: “I think I’d go with Forestieri to start with.
Fernando Forestieri celebrates scoring for Sheffield Wednesday against Bristol City
“I do think we’ve got to get it forward earlier but I also think we need to run the channel, we need to stretch the game and I think Jordan Rhodes can do that. Maybe him stretching it allows Forestieri to drop into that hole; the hole’s bigger, that gives you more time to play, more space to play in.
“Our strikers, we come to the ball because we want it to feet and we condense the play too much. Our short passing then becomes too tight and we can’t get through people.”
With everyone fit and available, Wednesday have six senior strikers to choose from, including Rhodes and Forestieri.
Of those, Gary Hooper and Steven Fletcher were employed by Premier League clubs last season, while another January recruit, Sam Winnall, has scored more Championship goals this campaign than any of his contemporaries – albeit in Barnsley colours.
Sam Winnall makes his Sheffield Wednesday debut against Huddersfield Town
“The difficult thing will be keeping everybody happy,” added Newsome.
“I mean, Sam Winnall; he’s come to club, he had a great debut when he came on as sub [against Huddersfield]. He’s probably sat there now thinking: ‘have I come to the right place? Off the back of me they’ve just signed an £8 million striker.'”
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Rhodes is set to make his home debut for the Owls in Friday’s televised game against Birmingham City.
Who should partner Rhodes up front for Sheffield Wednesday?
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