Michael Smith has had some incredible moments in a Sheffield Wednesday shirt, most recently his incredible goal against Portsmouth, but that’s not his highlight.
Having signed for Sheffield Wednesday in the summer of 2022 from Rotherham United, Michael Smith has gone on to prove time and time again how valuable and influential he can be.
The big striker has helped the club get promoted from League One, stay in the Championship, and is now pushing to be a key player in Danny Rohl’s lineup once more.
In October, the 33-year-old scored a stunning long-range effort to win the game against Portsmouth. Michael Smith’s goal there was described as ‘perfect’, but it’s still not the biggest goal he’s bagged for the Owls.
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Michael Smith was play-off hero for Sheffield Wednesday
Discussing his time at Sheffield Wednesday, and that amazing goal against Portsmouth, Smith admitted it was probably the best strike of his career to date, but insisted another moment burns brighter in his memory.
He told The Sheffield Star: “The Portsmouth one was the best aesthetically. But the penalty against Peterborough meant the most. You felt a switch in the stadium after that went in and the noise… I don’t think that’ll ever be topped.
“Funnily enough I felt more pressure on that penalty than the one in the shootout, because if it hadn’t gone in then I think the stadium may have gone the other way and it may have felt a bit like ‘Oh it’s not going to be our time’ or ‘It’s not going to happen’. But, thankfully it hit the back of the net and the rest is history.”
Smith slotted home a spot-kick on that fateful night at Hillsborough after just nine minutes to lay the groundwork for a phenomenal, record-breaking comeback against Peterborough in the play-off semi-final second leg.
The Owls went on to win that tie in a penalty shootout, before defeating Barnsley in the final at Wembley to secure their return to the Championship.
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Danny Rohl can still get more out of Michael Smith
Smith has scored three goals for Wednesday this season across 17 appearances, but he has only registered an average of 31 minutes per game.
Rohl has largely preferred Ike Ugbo up top, but with the Canadian looking out of sorts this season, there is a belief that Smith should start against Cardiff City at the weekend.
| Statistic | Michael Smith (2024/25) |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 17 |
| Minutes played | 635 |
| Goals | 4 |
| Assists | 3 |
| Shots on target % | 44.4 |
| Shot-creating actions per 90 | 3.25 |
Indeed, Michael Smith has actually been one of Sheffield Wednesday’s top performers this season, with data to prove it, so it’s unclear why he isn’t being given more opportunities in the team.
With his contract set to expire at the end of the season, Smith will be eager to prove his worth and secure a new deal, otherwise he may have to say farewell to S6 come next summer.