As Keane departed company after a disappointing 20 month stint in charge of the Tractor Boys, Rhodes proved him wrong; becoming Huddersfield’s top scorer in their faltering 09-10 (23 goals) and10-11 (22 goals) promotion campaigns. How Keane could have done with a goalscorer for his underachieving Ipswich side. In fact current Ipswich manager Paul Jewell, also under-fire for inconsistent results, could also do with a player of Rhodes’ calibre. Ipswich Town fans must be as sick as parrots.
This season, Rhodes has gone on to break more and more Huddersfield records, becoming the first Huddersfield player since the 1920s to score back to back hat-tricks. He also netted all four goals in Huddersfield’s 4-4 thriller with Sheffield Wednesday before his ‘famous five’ exploits against Wycombe.
As many as eight Premier League scouts were spotted that evening, all making notes on his textbook display of finishing. Though not particularly quick or strong, his track record shows Rhodes knows where the goal is. Interestingly enough, all five of those goals against Wycombe were predatory strikes, finishing off team moves as opposed to individual efforts. The phrase ‘great scorer of goals’ as opposed to ‘scorer of great goals’ springs to mind, drawing similarities to that of fellow striker Darren Bent.
However, if Huddersfield do eventually crumble into agreeing a fee for the Scottish International, maybe in this transfer window or in the summer, will Rhodes want to move on? He is worshipped amongst Huddersfield fans, who will obviously be keen for their hotshot to stay. After just two and a half years at the club, Rhodes is already the club’s 10th highest goalscorer of all time and has a chance to rewrite the club’s history book.
He was a prominent figure in the club’s recent 42-game unbeaten sequence and is of a character where he keeps himself to himself, but it is easy to see that he is settled and happy. On the other hand, Rhodes has tried and failed twice to achieve promotion with the Terriers as they have consistently become play-off victims.
With Huddy increasingly looking like they will be there or thereabouts again this season, surely Rhodes won’t want more play-off heartbreak if they fail again.
Another key point to remember is the influence of Rhodes’ manager Lee Clark. This is a man who, earlier this season, ruled himself out of an attractive looking Leicester City job. Although I’m sure Clark will not try to hold back a young player who could potentially play at a higher level, he will surely try his best to influence his star man to stay. And to do that, Huddersfield will have to get promoted this season before the vultures of Premier League clubs battle away for his signature in the summer, presuming Rhodes doesn’t move in this transfer window.
Some Premier League and Championship clubs may question whether Rhodes would be too much of a risk to sign and they do have a valid point, he is unproven at a higher level but I think time and time again he has proven that he does have the class and potential to be one of the most feared strikers in the country.
Whatever path Jordan Rhodes walks in the future, it will surely be a successful one.
Will Ridgard
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“However, if Huddersfield do eventually crumble into agreeing a fee for the Scottish International, maybe in this transfer window or in the summer”
Not a good thing for your article to be already out of date on publishing!
Deal already agreed, he will move to Norwich in the Summer.
Deal already agreed, he will move to Norwich in the Summer. Will be made public next week
Where is your evidence/link for this supposed Norwich deal?