Sheffield Wednesday manager Jos Luhukay has confirmed that striker Gary Hooper has suffered a complication in his return to fitness following his lengthy spell on the sidelines.
The 30-year-old £3million capture from Norwich City has a healthy goal return at the club given the games he’s played, but as fans will know, he’s yet to take to the pitch this season and hasn’t featured for the club following last season’s Boxing Day clash with Nottingham Forest.
He has made his return to the pitch in Under 23, but ahead of the clash against Aston Villa at Villa Park later today, our gaffer confirmed a complication as he met with the press to discuss the game.
Fans are less than pleased with the news.
???? JL: Hooper has a slight problem with his groin, he has not trained the past few days. We hope to have him back in training next week #swfcLIVE
— Sheffield Wednesday (@swfc) September 21, 2018
Are we training with medicine balls in the owls shop car park? So many injuries it's unreal
— Daniel Laird (@DanielLairdSWFC) September 21, 2018
Yet we blamed Carlos for all the injuries etc,
Something just isn’t right
— BIG NATH (@mexowl95) September 21, 2018
No surprise there then ????
— Kirk Hunter (@kirk_SWFC) September 21, 2018
Everytime a player nears a come back. Injury set back ???? ( I have to laugh or I’ll cry )
— Harry griffiths (@harrygriffithsx) September 21, 2018
Nothing new there ????
— Daniel Fairchild (@danfairchild84) September 21, 2018
Get rid of him!!!!!!! I’m sorry but he is costing us a fortune and for what exactly?
— Dawn deedee (@desertgold2) September 21, 2018
i know if i owned club would be looking into why so many injuries beyond a joke
— mark morris (@mlpets) September 21, 2018
In fairness, complications and breakdowns after such a long time out of the game with an injury aren’t new and Wednesday wouldn’t be the first club to have a set back like this, but given our overall injury record, it’s not a surprise to see fans react the way they have.
With Hooper expected back in training next week, thankfully it doesn’t sound a major set back, so hopefully, he remains close to a return in spite of it.