No going back on that Rhodes

STEVE Agnew can be excused for dreaming that Jordan Rhodes could be brought back into action in a Boro shirt.

But it appears that Uncle Steve has accepted that Rhodes’ loan move to Sheffield Wednesday is a permanent one.

The ambiguity has arisen because Rhodes is not yet officially a Wednesday player.

However Boro did fully intend to sell the constantlyoverlooked Rhodes to Wednesday for £10m before the transfer deadline.

But a problem in processing all of the correct forms, and with time running out, meant that the two clubs had to quickly agree an 11th hour loan deal until the end of the season.

Even then it was not clear at first whether they had beaten the clock in completing the loan deal or if Rhodes would have to stay on Teesside for at least a few more months.

However, much to Wednesday’s relief, the loan deal was ratified by the FA the following day.

Even though Rhodes is on loan, the overall agreement between the two clubs includes his permanent move to Hillsborough, which will officially take place during the summer.

Rhodes, who returned to the Scotland side against Canada in midweek, has scored three goals in seven Championship games for the Owls.

We’ll never know what might have happened if Boro had been able to resurrect the former successful Rudy Gestede-Rhodes partnership on Teesside. No doubt Agnew would love to have seen the partnership in action, but Rhodes will eventually become a Wednesday player whatever the future holds for the Boro.

Alvaro Negredo remains top Boro scorer with seven goals and potentially offers more, especially as he faces the prospect of having a striking partner alongside him for much of the final ten games. Gestede grabbed his second Boro goal against United and has looked bright during his pitch-time, so he is likely to feature strongly in the run-in.

Rhodes would have been an excellent addition to the squad of attackers. But there’s no point in crying over spilt milk, now that the Rhodes transfer is as good as done and dusted.