[ad_pod ]Gary Hooper last played for Sheffield Wednesday on Boxing Day 2017. The striker was taken off injured against Nottingham Forest in the first half and hasn’t been seen on the pitch at Hillsborough in the 15 months since.However, on Friday, the 31-year-old striker played 45 minutes for the Owls’ under-23s side against their Crystal Palace counterparts.
Ready to return?
He may still be some way short of first team level match fitness, but the former Celtic hitman is certainly getting there.Â
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After so long on the sidelines, he’s bound to be rusty, but Steve Bruce should still be excited to have such a competent finisher on the verge of swelling his ranks.Â
If Hooper is able to get back to full fitness in time to play a significant amount of Championship football this season then he has the capacity to have a huge impact for the Owls.
All to play for
The experienced centre-forward will be desperate to return to the fold before the end of the season, and will be keen to impress on the pitch if he can. With his current contract due to expire this summer, the No. 14 will need to prove his worth, and that he still has what it takes at this level in order to secure a new deal.
Wednesday, too, will be hoping that the 5ft 9in forward can hit the ground running. The Owls currently have an outside chance of making the play-offs, and Hooper’s goals could fire them to a historic promotion.Â
