Sheffield Wednesday have completed the signing of 26-year-old attacker Josh Windass. Windass joins on a permanent deal from Wigan Athletic, who are in serious financial trouble after going into administration late last season. As a result, the Latics were handed a 12-point deduction, relegating them from the Sky Bet Championship.
Josh Windass Completes Sheffield Wednesday Switch
Windass Returns to Hillsborough
Josh Windass returns to Hillsborough after a loan spell with the Owls last season. The former Rangers man joined Sheffield Wednesday in January, featuring nine times and scoring three goals. In June, Windass picked up a calf injury which kept him out of action for the first four games after the restart but came back into the action for the remaining five.
Owls boss Garry Monk played the former Rangers man as a second striker and an attacking midfielder, and that versatility could be valuable to a Wednesday side that seems to be lacking in depth.
Career so Far for Josh Windass
Windass started his professional career at Accrington Stanley, where he played a total of 86 games, scoring 23 and assisting 13 along the way. He spent three years at Stanley before joining Rangers on a free transfer in 2016. The 26-year-old also spent two seasons in Scotland and appeared in 73 games, providing 13 goals and scoring 19.
Windass, son of former Hull City striker Dean Windass, became a consistent performer at Rangers and attracted attention from England. In the summer of 2018, he completed a move to Wigan Athletic for a fee of around £2 million. Wigan fans were excited to see what he could offer in the Championship following their promotion from League One the previous season.
Windass was involved in the majority of Wigan’s games in the 2018/19 season, playing 39 and contributing five goals and four assists. In the 2019/20 season, he went on to play 15 games, scoring four times before a loan move to Sheffield Wednesday came about in January.
Heavy Weight on His Shoulders
Before he joined the Owls this summer, Wednesday only had two senior strikers at the club in Jordan Rhodes and Elias Kachunga. Rhodes, who has an exceptional record in the Football League, has been a shadow of his former self and only scored three goals in the 2019/20 season – all of which were in a first-half hat-trick against Nottingham Forest. As for Kachunga, the new signing will need time to adjust to his new surroundings.
With the likes of Steven Fletcher, Fernando Forestieri and Atdhe Nuhiu leaving, Wednesday need firepower before their opening game against Walsall in the Carabao Cup. Unless Garry Monk has something up his sleeves, Rhodes, Kachunga and Windass will be the only three strikers available.
With Windass being more of a second striker, he won’t be used to having the pressure of being the ‘main man’ in attack. Unfortunately, that may have to be the case until Wednesday bring in more reinforcements in those attacking positions.
Josh Windass will be expected to add goals to the toothless attack, with the added pressure of Wednesday starting the season on -12points.
Second Signing in a Short Space of Time
Josh Windass becomes Wednesday’s second signing in a short space of time following free signing Elias Kachunga through the door. Both attackers add pace and drive in the attack and if all goes well, goals as well.
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