LUHUKAY: JOR STILL THE ONE FOR ME
JOS LUHUKAY has vowed to stick with his goal-starved Sheffield Wednesday striker Jordan Rhodes.
Rhodes scored 87 times in 148 outings for Huddersfield and then 85 more in 169 games for Blackburn.
The goals dried up since a £10million switch to the Owls, but Luhukay, 54, refuses to give up on his marksman. The Dutchman, who replaced the sacked Carlos Carvalhal earlier this month, said: “I don’t know why Jordan has not maybe scored enough goals.
“Maybe there is an issue with confidence, but I believe he will rediscover his goalscoring touch. I have seen Jordan for only three weeks but, in that time, he has shown me he has a very strong character.
“He is a very positive boy and he will learn every day.
“I enjoy what I see from him because he has a lot of quality. And there is no reason why he cannot score.”
Rhodes, 27, will spearhead the attack tonight as the Owls bid to get past Championship rivals Reading and reach the fifth round of the FA Cup.
Former Hertha Berlin and Stuttgart chief Luhukay said: “The FA Cup is a famous and very well-respected competition, and every team should want to progress as far as they can. That is what I want.” Reading midfielder Dave Edwards is also desperate for a cup win – to kick-start their fight for survival.
The Royals are now looking over their shoulders following an eight-game winless streak.
“We simply need to find results from somewhere – regardless of the competition,” said Edwards. “There’s no getting away from the fact that we are in a relegation scrap. But momentum and confidence are a big part of football.”