Sheffield Wednesday have unearthed a new goal hero in recent weeks.
Sheffield Wednesday, in one of their darkest times, have unearthed a new goal hero at exactly the right time.
HIs name is Ike Ugbo; the man on loan from Troyes has scored five goals in seven Championship appearances since joining last month.
Ugbo is already ranking among the highest all-time Sheffield Wednesday players for goals-per-game, with a ratio of 0.63.
But speaking to the press ahead of the Championship clash vs South Yorkshire rivals Rotherham United this weekend, Owls boss Danny Rohl said that something else about Ugbo’s game has impressed him the most.
Danny Rohl hails Ike Ugbo work ethic
Speaking to The Star ahead of another crunch match this weekend, Rohl said of Ugbo:
“If you start to score then you make your own momentum. But what is best is that he has worked so hard against the ball. Now he creates more and more chances, we all understand one another more and more and understands the strengths of one another.”
Ugbo along with fellow January arrival Ian Poveda have impressed in recent weeks, with the pair linking up in games and helping the Owls put some vital points on the board.
The gap to safety now stands at three points.
Ugbo has beaten expectations at Sheffield Wednesday
Upon his arrival, few thought Ugbo would have as much of an impact as he has.
He had only scored four in 20 league games for Cardiff City in the first half of the season, but Rohl is certainly getting a tune out of him now.
And Ugbo’s work off the ball makes him ideal for this high-pressing and high-energy Sheffield Wednesday side, so he’s bound to be a favourite of Rohl’s already.
Now it’s a case of finding consistency and getting Sheffield Wednesday over the line, with a long way still to go in the Championship this season.
Ugbo’s career so far has been thwart with inconsistent patches. But the 25-year-old now seems to be in a good vein of form and with the wind in his sails, he could well be the saviour for Sheffield Wednesday this season.
He and Rohl, of course, who continues to impress amid uncertainty over his future at Hillsborough.
Bottom club Rotherham have lost their last six now and have won just once since October. But they’ll be eager to put a dampener on Sheffield Wednesday’s parade as the Owls edge closer and closer to safety.