Sheffield Wednesday have been without Lee Gregory for large parts of their successful season so far, however, manager Darren Moore says the striker is ready to lead the line once again, when speaking to YorkshireLive.
The 34-year-old has only started 14 of Wednesday’s 33 games this season, with the attacker having to deal with nagging injuries throughout the year.
Gregory last started a game on the 21st of January against Fleetwood, but has featured four times since then by appearing off the bench. Wednesday’s top goalscorer from last season, the former Millwall man scored 17 goals in all competitions, however, has only managed to find the back of the net five times this year.
Manager Darren Moore believes the Sheffield-born striker is ready to start once again and help the Owls get back into the Championship.
Despite Gregory’s absence Wednesday has been a force in League One this season, currently leading the league even with a game in hand on teams below them. The Owls are unbeaten in their last 21 league games, with promotion back to the Championship looking likely.
Wednesday are three points clear of their closest competitors Plymouth Argyle and have created a gap of eight points between them and the playoff spots. Even with a far superior goal difference to the other challengers, closing out at the business end of the season is still needed.
Having a fully-fit Gregory will only make this Wednesday’s team more dominant, with Moore understanding what the striker adds to his side.
Moore speaking to YorkshireLive said: “In those final 20 minutes against Peterborough, for us to bring a fresh Lee Gregory on is another addition to the squad which we’re really pleased to have.”
Moore added : “Greggers is in a position now where we feel he can start games.
“If I see fit for him to start next week at Portsmouth then I will do. But he’s definitely ready and with the games coming up, midweek games etc, he’ll definitely start games.”
“He does the things people take for granted. He does hold the ball up, he does link play. You see the game management late on in games, people like him and Baz (Barry Bannan) have the intelligence and that can take the game away from the opposition.
Writer’s View
Wednesday over the last couple of months has been by far the most impressive team over League One and Two, and it seems kind of unfair they’ve looked this good despite missing the talents of Gregory. They have a good rotation of players at the position with Micheal Smith and Josh Windass both having at least 10 goals this year.
Not all three of them players can start however, and if playing devil’s advocate, with Gregory’s physicality and being 34 years of age, maybe a role as a disturber off the bench isn’t a bad position for the Englishman to be in.
