Jos still loyal to Rhodes

JOS LUHUKAY has vowed to stick with goal-starved Sheffield Wednesday striker Jordan Rhodes.

Rhodes is fighting for his Owls future after firing more blanks than bullets since checking in at Hillsborough a year ago.

Scotland star Rhodes scored for fun during spells with Huddersfield and Blackburn but the goals mysteriously dried up when he joined Middlesbrough, before his £10m switch to Wednesday.

The dismal drought has continued, with Rhodes finding the net only nine times in 47 games ahead of tonight’s FA Cup fourth round tie with Reading.

But new boss Luhukay will not give up on his misfiring marksman.

He said: “I don’t know why Jordan has not scored enough goals.

Touch

“But we must wait and see what he does for us in the next few games.

“I hope in the weeks and months to come that Jordan finds his best quality and can make a difference in those games with goals.

“Maybe the issue is 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 that he has a very strong character.

“There is no reason why he cannot score.”

Fellow Championship side Reading are looking over their shoulders following an eight-game winless run.

But Royals midfielder Dave Edwards wants his team-mates to use tonight as a springboard to kickstart a survival push.

He said: “We need to be winning games at the moment, regardless of the competition.

“If we can earn that positive result then it can have an knock-on effect on our league form.”