Owls opt for experienced striker

Last updated : 28 March 2013 By C. Morris

Sheffield Wednesday have made a surprise move today in the loan market by signing Steve Howard on loan from Hartlepool United. It is no shock that the Owls have moved to bring a striker in having recently lost the services of Connor Wickham, who has returned to Sunderland following the end of his loan spell and they were dealt a major blow when top scorer Michail Antonio was ruled out for the remainder of the season due to injury.

The surprise is that it was Howard who the club plumped for on loan deadline day. The striker has plenty of experience, scoring at a rate of just under a goal every other game for Luton in over 200 appearances between 2001 and 2006. He went on to establish himself at Championship level with productive spells at Derby and Leicester but he was restricted to mainly substitute appearances for the Foxes last season.

As a result of finding himself down the pecking order at Leicester Howard moved onto League One side Hartlepool in the close season and has played over 30 times for the strugglers this season, scoring 3 goals. He may not be as prolific as he once was but Dave Jones will be hoping that the 3-year-olds abilities as a no-nonsense target man will help to create chances for the likes of Leroy Lita during the Owls run in towards the end of the season.

Howard will be eligible to make his debut against Barnsley on Saturday but faces competition from the likes of Gary Madine and Jermaine Johnson for a starting place.