Sheffield Wednesday host Burton Albion in the Championship on Tuesday.
Burton Albion boss Nigel Clough
Burton Albion boss Nigel Clough has joked his side were just pipped to the signing of Jordan Rhodes by Sheffield Wednesday.
Rhodes arrived at Hillsborough on an initial half-season loan from Middlesbrough on deadline day, which will become permanent in the summer for an undisclosed fee.
The striker took his tally to three goals in seven matches during Saturday’s 5-1 demolition of Norwich City, scoring once in each half, and will be looking to further increase his tally against Burton on Tuesday night.
Despite the two sides being separated by 13 positions in the Championship table, sixth-placed Wednesday will be wary of the threat posed by the Brewers, who beat them 3-1 at the Pirelli Stadium last August.
The Owls were without a number of key men that night, however, and have added eight new faces since then, leaving Clough under no illusions about the task that awaits his side.
“It’s a different Sheffield Wednesday we’re facing,” the former Hillsborough loanee told BBC Radio Derby. “Jordan Rhodes has just banged in two goals as well – it’s a bit of bad luck really because when we knew he was available we bid nine-and-a-half and they just pipped us for £10 million on deadline day.
Sheffield Wednesday’s Jordan Rhodes
“We we’re close to getting him I think – £9,500 we were bidding, not million.
“He’s a good striker, a great goalscorer. They’ve got a lot of players: (Fernando) Forestieri, (Sam) Winnall they’ve brought in, we know all about Barry Bannan.
“They’ve got a lot of players who can hurt you, Sheffield Wednesday.”
Wednesday are sweating on the fitness of Sam Hutchinson ahead of Burton’s visit, with Almen Abdi, Tom Lees and Gary Hooper all doubts.
Sheffield Wednesday’s Sam Hutchinson
And Clough confirmed a number of his side could miss the trip to Hillsborough, including on-loan Sheffield United defender John Brayford.
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