Jordan Rhodes: No regrets at Middlesbrough departure
Thursday 2 February 2017 18:18, UK
Jordan Rhodes says he has no regrets at leaving Middlesbrough to return the Sky Bet Championship with Sheffield Wednesday in search of more playing time.
The Scottish striker joined the Owls on loan until the end of the season, with a view to a permanent move in the summer, after struggling to break into Aitor Karanka's side in the Premier League.
Rhodes will now help Wednesday's play-off push, starting with their trip to Wigan on Friday night live on Sky Sports, and is excited to start seeing more regular action.
Live EFL
"Middlesbrough is a fantastic club and I really enjoyed my time there," he told Sky Sports. "I made such great friends and it's sad that I couldn't have played the games I would have liked.
"But life moves on and football is such a short career, you have to make the most of it while you can. I'm really delighted to be part of the Sheffield Wednesday squad and I'm looking forward to getting started.
"I just love playing football in whatever league. I've played in all of them now, I loved playing in the Premier League as much as I loved playing in the Conference.
"There's no better feeling than waking up on a Saturday and having that anticipation of what might come from the day.
"I wish Middlesbrough all the best, but I love playing football and that [made my decision]. I'm happy to be here and hopefully will play a few more minutes and contribute to what is already a great season at Sheffield Wednesday."
Wednesday find themselves in seventh in the table heading into Friday night's game, and Rhodes is hopeful that he can help the side go one better than their play-off final defeat last season.
"The aim and collective goal is to gain promotion and get out of this division by whatever means necessary, whether that's via the play-offs or maybe through the top two," he said.
"There's a lot of football to be played and who knows what the top six will be come May, we've just got to take it one game at a time.
"It's not about me or who scores the goals, it's about the collective effort to get this club to where it needs to be, and I think that's the Premier League."
Wigan have been in resurgent form under Warren Joyce of late, winning their last two games in a real boost to their survival hopes, and Rhodes knows Wednesday will have to be at their best to win at the DW Stadium.
"Wigan are a very good team and we're going to have to produce our best performance and be right on our game," he said. "Hopefully we'll overcome them in the 90 minutes."
