The Sheffield Wednesday striker has failed to find the net since March.
Sheffield Wednesday striker Jordan Rhodes
Former Sheffield Wednesday striker Neil Mellor has offered an explanation as to why Jordan Rhodes has struggled for goals since moving to Hillsborough.
Rhodes had scored 91 goals in 189 Championship appearances prior to his January switch from Middlesborough, which could end up costing the Owls £10 million.
However, despite finding the net three times in his first seven games for his new club, the Scotland international has failed to do so in any of his subsequent 11 outings.
Having said that, Rhodes’ presence does appear to be having a positive impact on his teammates, who have failed to score a single goal without him on the pitch since he signed.
According to Mellor, who is the last Wednesday striker to score 20 goals in a single campaign, it is now up to some of them to help the struggling Owls star get back on the goal trail.
“I really like Jordan,” the Sky Sports pundit told Alan Biggs’ Sheffield Live TV show on Thursday. “What I like about him is he has the football brain; the movement inside the penalty area.
Former Sheffield Wednesday striker Neil Mellor
“I think the reason why he hasn’t scored too many goals [is because] Sheffield Wednesday don’t commit too many players forward into the penalty area. Now if Jordan’s one of maybe two inside the penalty area he’s a lot easier to mark. If all of a sudden there’s three or four Sheffield Wednesday players getting into the penalty area that’s when Jordan’s at his best, finding that little bit of space and that’s where he gets his goalscoring opportunities.
“If there are going to be times when Sheffield Wednesday commit more players into the penalty area that’s when Jordan becomes more of a goal threat. We’ve seen his record in the Championship previously; he scores goals in big games, so I fully expect him that he will be involved in key moments within the play-offs this season.”
Rhodes’ cause has perhaps not been helped by the absence of Kieran Lee, Gary Hooper and Fernando Forestieri – who are all fond of making late runs into the box – for much of his spell in the side.
Sheffield Wednesday midfielder Kieran Lee
However, with at least two of those likely to feature in Wednesday’s upcoming semi-final double-header with Huddersfield Town, things could be about to get better for Rhodes – if, of course, he is selected by manager Carlos Carvalhal.
Will Rhodes come good for Sheffield Wednesday?
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
