Sheffield Wednesday: Hunt defends Owls striker

Nuhiu divides opinion amongst Wednesday fans, having bagged just 23 goals in 122 league and cup appearances since joining the Championship outfit from Turkish side Eskisehirspor in July 2013.

However, he silenced some of his detractors on Saturday, playing a big part after stepping up off the bench in the Owls’ victory over top-six rivals Birmingham City.

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Right-back Hunt has told The Star: “Attey is very important and it would be unfair to say he just likes the ball up in the air.

“If you look at players in the top-flight who get stick who are also tall, Andy Carroll and Olivier Giroud are not just long ball targets. They bring others into the game and that’s what Attey does for us.

“Attey takes a lot of stick because he is not as quick or as sharp as smaller players but I get to see him in training every day so know he’s a great footballer. He plays brilliantly and scores goals.

“When he’s not scoring goals, I think his hold up play is good. He links are smaller, trickier players like Barry Bannan, Fernando Forestieri, Kieran Lee and Ross Wallace.

“Attey is so instrumental for them because when the ball goes up to him, he can hold the ball up and they can make runs. They know nine times out of 10 he’s going to find them.

“You need people like that in your team and squad. If we are going to get promoted, Atdhe is going to be massive for us.”

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