Danny Rohl has explained what has made Ike Ugbo such a success at Sheffield Wednesday.
Ike Ugbo had had four stints in the EFL prior to his move to Hillsborough, joining Barnsley, MK Dons and Scunthorpe United on loan from Chelsea earlier in his career. He then spent the first half of the current campaign with Cardiff City.
During his time in England, the striker only managed to score nine goals in 73 games across the four different loan spells – with four of them coming for the Bluebirds this season.
It had been a particularly underwhelming record in his home country before his move to Sheffield Wednesday, but things are looking up since joining Danny Rohl’s side.
While he didn’t score in his first three games, Ugbo has since netted five in four games in the Championship – bagging braces against both Birmingham and Bristol City.
The 25-year-old has been responsible for six points that the Owls have picked up in recent weeks, taking them to within only three points of safety.
Ugbo’s success at Hillsborough has come as a surprise to many, with journalist Alan Biggs admitting that he ‘didn’t see’ the forward making ‘such a difference’ to the team.
Danny Rohl has now addressed Ugbo’s brilliant form and has explained the factors as to why he has been so good.
“I think I have given him a lot of trust,” Rohl told The Star. “And also his self confidence is back.
“The team recognises how he works, which movements he makes, and I think it’s important that we understand each other more and more.
“He has his qualities, and that’s the reason why we took him.”
The importance of Ike Ugbo
Ike Ugbo has only been at Sheffield Wednesday since January and has played significantly less games than most of the squad, but is already their joint top scorer.
The striker has already had more shots than the likes of Michael Smith, Ashley Fletcher and Mallik Wilks, while has also made three key passes and has won 12 headers.
With the rest of their striker options looking particularly underwhelming this term, Ugbo is exactly what the Owls had been missing.
It is certainly too early to have put so much pressure on Bailey Cadamarteri to be their first choice No.9 and hopefully Ugbo’s presence will allow him to develop further ahead of next season, where he could earn himself a bigger role.