Back in May, former Rangers midfielder Andy Halliday raised eyebrows when claiming one of his old Ibrox teammates would stroll into Philippe Clement’s starting XI.
Though, seven months on and with the one-time Rangers stalwart producing some of the most consistent football of his career, Halliday’s point appears to have aged pretty like a fine cut of prime rib.
Because, as an ‘angry Philippe Clement’ watched his insipid Rangers lose at St Mirren, how the Belgian could have done with the sort of resolve displayed south of the border by Sheffield Wednesday.
Three-nil down after 30 minutes, even greater sides may have given up and accepted that this just wasn’t going to be their day. But not Danny Rohl’s Sheffield Wednesday side. Rohl has instilled a fierce sense of determination in his Owls ranks, and arguably no one epitomises their never-say-die spirit better than Josh Windass.
Former Rangers ace Josh Windass inspiring Sheffield Wednesday’s play-off charge
Now 30, and six years after Rangers accepted a reported £2.5 million bid from Wigan Athletic, a mature and highly-experienced Windass is relishing the chance to lead by example alongside fellow veterans Barry Bannan, Liam Palmer and Callum Paterson at Hillsborough.
With eight goals by December 27th, this is shaping up to be Windass’ most prolific season since leaving Ibrox back in 2018. He has now scored in three successive Championship matches, and five in his last nine starts.
It is not just the number of goals, meanwhile, but the timing of them which makes Windass such a huge presence at a Sheffield Wednesday side threatening to go from relegation-battlers to promotion-contenders in just 12 months.
Windass pulled Wednesday back to 3-2 away at Middlesbrough on Boxing Day, laying the foundations for Yan Valery’s most unexpected of equalisers. Windass also cancelled out Oxford’s opener en route to a 3-1 away win earlier this month. He opened the scoring in a 2-0 triumph over Stoke City too, Windass’ contributions helping secure seven points from the last nine available.
“I think, in the first-half, we saw what it means to play against a strong and very good team in this league. It’s why they are in the top six,” Rohl told reporters after Sheffield Wednesday snatched a draw from the jaws of defeat.
“It’s not a coincidence that we’ve taken so many points from behind. It’s incredible, and I’m very proud of my team. They never give up. Every helps, everybody is important in this group, and to take a point here against a very, very strong side is outstanding.”
Philippe Clement’s Rangers searching for their number ten solution
Whether Windass would be a Rangers starter these days, as Halliday attested to half a year ago, is another thing. Though making those late, darting runs into the penalty area from his attacking midfield role, there is certainly an argument to be made that Rangers could do with a number ten with Windass’ nose for goal.
Ianis Hagi and Nedim Bajrami both struggled at St Mirren. Mo Diomande looks far more suited to a deeper position. Tom Lawrence, meanwhile, remains unavailable following yet another injury.
“I tell you what, he’s flying just now,” Halliday said of Windass at the end of last season, Rangers’ old number 11 already exceeding his 2023/24 tally halfway into 2024/25.
“He’s a good player. Josh would play for Rangers just now, in this team. I think so. Josh is a good player. He’s rapid. He was reliable, always available for games and very rarely injured. He did well in a lot of games as well.”
