Sheffield Wednesday: Owls forward reaps the benefits of team work

The sight of Fernando Forestieri leaving Hillsborough on crutches wearing a leg brace in the wake of a controversial Yorkshire derby understandably filled Wednesdayites with a sense of dread.
Fernando ForestieriFernando Forestieri
Fernando Forestieri

For the little Argentine is the Owls’ talisman and is irreplaceable.

If Wednesday are to finish in the Championship’s play-off zone, it is imperative Forestieri stays clear of injuries.

I am told Forestieri’s knee problem is not as bad as first feared - and they will need him to be available for selection and performing to his maximum to pick up a positive result at Reading this weekend.

Forestieri, a £3m buy from Watford last August, has weighed in with 11 goals and multiple assists, including two against Leeds United. He surely has to go down as one of the bargains of the season.

Oozing confidence and class, Forestieri brings so much to Wednesday’s attack. His immaculate touch, vision and flair unsettles defenders.

But as his teammate Atdhe Nuhiu is keen to point out, Forestieri is a matchwinner who needs to be given good quality supply to blossom.

He told The Star: “Fernando is a great player and a fantastic professional.

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“He can make the difference for us but he can’t do it on his own against 11 other players.

“He needs 10 players to play with him so that he can shine even more and that is what our team is like at the moment.

“Every player on the pitch gives their best so that the other player next to them can shine.”

Fresh from agreeing a new two-and-a-half-year contract, Nuhiu is determined to play an instrumental part in Wednesday’s promotion push.

“There were other clubs interested but Sheffield Wednesday was always my first option because the manager and the staff know the way I feel about the club,” said the four-goal striker. “I know where I belong. It was never in doubt for me.

“When Carlos spoke with me for the first time, my mind was already made up. He wanted me to stay and I have a very good relationship with him.

“I came here with a mission and the mission isn’t finished yet.

“We all know where we want to take this club and that is to the Premier League. That is the mission.”