Jerry Yates plea made at Sheffield Wednesday after Luton Town development | OneFootball

FLW's Sheffield Wednesday fan pundit would love to see Jerry Yates back in an Owls shirt after he was left out of Luton Town's squad numbers list

Luton Town's squad numbers list for the 2026/27 campaign had a few key omissions, but the biggest absence was Jerry Yates.

This time last year, the 29-year-old was being unveiled at Kenilworth Road ahead of the League One curtain-raiser against AFC Wimbledon, and there was plenty of excitement to see what the frontman could do back in the third tier.

Yates had spent the four previous seasons leading lines in the Championship, and scored 21 times in his latest League One term at Blackpool, so expectations were high, especially with a heavily reported seven-figure fee being attributed to his move from Swansea City.

However, mere months on from that move, he was left surplus to requirements by new boss Jack Wilshere, and despite more Championship minutes on loan in the second half of the season, his absence from the squad list ahead of the new season indicates that hasn't changed.

Sheffield Wednesday fan pundit would love to see Jerry Yates back at Hillsborough this summer

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That aforementioned loan move in January back to the Championship saw Yates link up with the short-handed Sheffield Wednesday side, who were scrambling to bring in anyone they could on no-fee loan deals.

The 29-year-old contributed well, despite all the off-field noise surrounding potential takeovers at Hillsborough, scoring four goals in 18 second-tier games, three of which came consecutively against Southampton, Derby County and Watford.

He made a good impression on those at Hillsborough, and if presented with the opportunity to bring him back to South Yorkshire, FLW's Wednesday fan pundit, Patrick McKenna, is interested in a move being made.

"I think if we can get a loan deal for Jerry Yates, he'd be someone I'd pursue," he said. "We're still quite light in attacking options and the start of the season isn't too far away.

"We saw what he did last year for us in a struggling Championship team, and I think, at League One level, he could lead the line well for us, providing ability and chipping in with goals."

Sheffield Wednesday may face a stumbling block in Jerry Yates pursuit if Luton Town would prefer a sale this summer

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However, McKenna did suggest that the details of a possible deal could serve as a barrier to seeing Yates back in a Wednesday shirt.

Despite the hard work that David Storch and the Arise consortium did to eradicate the imposed 15-point deduction to start next season and make it possible for them to sign players this summer, too, they are still working under a financial framework for the next two seasons.

If Luton do want to sell this summer, they'll want to recoup the majority of what they spent on Yates to ensure that they don't make a loss on the striker, which Wednesday may not be able to co-operate with.

"Luton not giving him a squad number does hint that he's surplus to requirements," McKenna continued. "But it depends on whether they're open to selling or loaning him at this stage.

"It's a key difference, but I was impressed with the battling job he did for us last season, and with the tough League One campaign ahead, I would certainly welcome him back."

Despite proving that he can score for a struggling Championship side in the second half of last season, it's probably unlikely that a club higher up would be that keen to spend a seven-figure fee on him, so Wednesday could be in luck.

Yates' contract was undisclosed, but it's unlikely it was just a two-year deal, so there may not be an immediate need to sell from a Luton perspective. Loaning him out could be optimal, as a strong campaign elsewhere could raise his value for the Hatters to then cash in on this time next year.

Jerry Yates could be exactly what Sheffield Wednesday need up front this season

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There have been several forward additions this summer at Sheffield Wednesday, but there's still no real indication of who will nail down that number nine spot heading into the new League One campaign.

The likes of Harry Gray and Mason Burstow can both operate behind the striker or up top, while Jamal Lowe isn't many Owls' fans' first choice as the starting striker this year.

In Yates, though, Wednesday would have a certified frontman who knows where the back of the net is at League One level, his poor spell at Luton aside.

And, from a player's perspective, the 29-year-old may love to rejoin the club, too, based on what he said following his loan move being confirmed in January, stating, "You may never get a chance to play for a club this big ever in your life. It's one of the biggest in England.

"I'm more than honoured, and I feel very lucky to be here. I'm very excited."