A Sheffield Wednesday January target is finding form with his new club.
Sheffield Wednesday had a difficult January transfer window, often being linked with players but often seeing them head elsewhere.
But in the end, Danny Rohl managed to sign some good players; James Beadle, Ike Ugbo, and Ian Poveda all joined in January, and all have played huge roles in the turnround in form.
The Owls may well have liked another new striker in, though.
They tried and failed to sign Duncan McGuire on deadline day, with Dwight Gayle linked shortly after the window slammed shut.
The 34-year-old agreed to terminate his contract at Stoke City and became a free agent.
Dwight Gayle firing for Derby County after Sheffield Wednesday links
Shortly after his Stoke City release, it was revealed that a number of Championship and League One sides were keeping tabs on Gayle.
The former Newcastle United and West Brom striker eventually signed for Derby County in League One, and he’s rediscovered his scoring touch.
After scoring just three league goals in a season-and-a-half at Stoke City, Gayle has since scored three in five League One outings for the Rams.
The experienced striker has scored in each of his last three games now as Paul Warne’s Derby work their way towards promotion from League One.
The Rams currently sit in 2nd place of the table and have a one-point lead over Bolton Wanderers in 3rd, with Gayle labelled as ‘terrific’ by reporter Leigh Curtis.
Ike Ugbo form softens the blow of missing out on Gayle
Ugbo, unlike Gayle, took a while to get going with his new club.
But the Canadian international has since blossomed with the Owls, having scored six goals in 10 games for Sheffield Wednesday who are just a point from safety.
And so that’s eased the blow of missing out on another striker signing in January, though having Gayle in the ranks would certainly have been a bolster for Danny Rohl.
Gayle is showing his experience and his class for Derby County and, like Ugbo at Sheffield Wednesday, it looks like Warne has uncovered a gem in what is a crucial run-in for the Rams.
Gayle is only on a short-term deal at Pride Park. But if his scoring form continues then he could well earn a new deal with the Rams, or a deal elsewhere.
And the Owls could yet be lining up against the striker next season depending on how this final run-in goes.
Sheffield Wednesday have just nine games of their season left, with a point needed to bring them out of the drop zone; goal difference though would likely keep them in it for the time being.
Up next is a trip to Ipswich Town this weekend.