Windass returns to the Owls

Josh Windass proved to be one of the few bright sparks in a bleak second half to the 2019/20 season for Sheffield Wednesday.

In six starts and three substitute appearances, Windass notched three goals which came on his debut against Barnsley at Oakwell, at Hillsborough against Derby County and in the capital when The Owls travelled to Queens Park Rangers.

Negotiations between Wednesday and Wigan Athletic lasted weeks due to the complexity of The Latics’ financial situation; they owed Windass’ former club Rangers £450,000 for the deal which brought the forward back south of the border in August 2018.

There has been an additional two-week delay in the deal from when a fee was agreed due to the receivership situation facing Wigan, in the meantime Windass has trained on his own near his West Yorkshire home.

Windass keen to link up with former manager

The 26-year-old remained keen throughout the summer to link back up with Garry Monk and Monk’s new assistant coach James Beattie who was Windass’ manager at Accrington Stanley back in 2013.

Beattie was key in kickstarting the career of Windass who had just been released from Huddersfield Town without making an appearance. 

So key was Beattie in the development of the then 19-year-old, Windass was quick to thank him after moving to Scotland to sign for The ‘Gers in 2016, when he said: “Accrington gave me a chance in football when nobody else would.

“James Beattie gave me a contract and all I wanted to do was go in and get a few opportunities in the first team. I have pushed on from there and done well.”

In fact, former England international Beattie played his part in last season’s loan spell for Windass. It was him that enticed Monk to bring the forward to S6 on deadline day in January.

Another striker through the door will be a welcome addition to the squad for Garry Monk, while it remains an area where more business needs to be completed.

As Owls fans saw last season, Windass can fill in as an attacking midfielder or a front man and Windass can expect to find Jordan Rhodes and Elias Kachunga as his possible strike partners when he links up with the squad at Middlewood Road ahead of Saturdays Carabao cup clash at Walsall.