According to a recent interview conducted by Football Insider, former Kilmarnock defender Alex Bruce has tipped Sheffield Wednesday ace Jordan Rhodes to score goals in Scotland, if he does end up moving across the border to join Celtic on a free transfer in the upcoming summer window. The former Premiership centre-half then went on to suggest that the Scottish striker could turn his form around upon making the switch to Glasgow.
The 35-year-old defender then said that the striker would also be a good signing for the Celts. Bruce told Football Insider, “He’d be a good signing because one thing that Jordan does do, he knows where the back of the net is. He’s proven that at the majority of clubs he’s been at. It would be a hell of a move for him, I have to say, because he’s not really done much in the last couple of seasons but I could see it being a good fit. I definitely would see him scoring goals up in Scotland.”
How Has Jordan Rhodes’ Form Varied Over The Years?
The 30-year-old striker has spent a lot of time at various clubs across England, ranging from Huddersfield Town to Norwich City. Although the forward’s scoring rate isn’t the worst, it must be considered that his goal tally hasn’t hit double figures since he last achieved ten goals for Blackburn Rovers during the 2015/16 Championship campaign. The Scot’s last four years of league action have yielded just 17 goals in total, which begs the question as to whether he has actually lost his scoring touch.
With that said though, what the Wednesday man does have going for him is the fact that he was quite prolific prior to the aforementioned dip in form. The Scottish ace scored 20+ goals in the Championship for three seasons in a row back from 2012 through 2015 (Transfermarkt), which makes the forward’s ability to find the back of the net more than apparent. Whether or not he’s able to replicate that old form in a league which is arguably superior to the one he’s currently at is a whole other question altogether.
What Would Rhodes Add To The Celtic Front-Line?
The Scottish striker possesses the predatory instincts required to score goals at the top level, and that’s apparent in his playing style. The 30-year-old isn’t the most energetic player, but what he lacks in pace, he makes up for with great finesse and razor-sharp awareness. Adept at taking neat touches around defenders, the forward does have the physicality required to win second balls and bombard his way into the final third. The Wednesday man offers an excellent presence in the box, as can be seen from the number of headed goals he’s scored over the years.
Would This Be A Smart Piece Of Business By Neil Lennon?
A recent report by the Daily Express as claimed that Premier League giants Arsenal have earmarked Celtic forward Odsonne Edouard as a target for the summer, in which case finding a replacement for the prolific Frenchman must become a priority.
Although that could end up being the case, Jordan Rhodes’ form over recent seasons doesn’t suggest that he’s the man who could come in and take over from the Celtic fan-favourite. The Sheffield Wednesday striker’s goals have dried up, and taking such a risk on a 30-year-old striker could end up being costly for the Scottish champions, even if it is on a free transfer.
