Sheffield Wednesday must take action with £17.5k-a-week star - He can't leave Hillsborough | OneFootball

The veteran goalscorer is Sheffield Wednesday's second-top goalscorer this season

With some key contract decisions to be made between now and the end of the season, Championship play-off hopefuls Sheffield Wednesday should look to retain the services of Michael Smith beyond the end of his current contract at Hillsborough.

Despite off-field dramas thanks to owner Dejphon Chansiri, Sheffield Wednesday are still in top-six contention in the Championship.

Michael Smith has provided Sheffield Wednesday boss Danny Rohl with a different option

Smith is the Owls’ second top goalscorer, showcasing how much he still has to offer despite being 33 years of age, and despite largely being used as a substitute under Danny Rohl, Smith is still a key figure for the Owls.

Only Josh Windass - with 10 league strikes - has scored more Championship goals than Smith’s eight this term, and with Windass’ future also up in the air, Wednesday would be wise to retain at least one proven source of goals in the team.

League One high flyers Wrexham have been long-term admirers of Smith, with the Welsh club having a move for the striker rebuffed in January.

But Smith is clearly still capable of operating in the Championship as shown this season, working hard for the opportunity in the second tier after toiling lower down the pyramid for most of his career.

The striker had to wait until the 10th season of his professional career for a chance in the Championship, with Smith unable to prevent Rotherham United from avoiding the drop during the 2018-19 season.

However, his eight goals in a struggling Championship side indicated that he could cut it as a striker at the level.

After helping the Millers back to the second tier in his second full season at the New York Stadium, Smith hit double figures in the division for the first time.

However, once again Smith’s goals were not enough for Rotherham to beat the drop, despite scoring 10 times for the South Yorkshire outfit, and after one more season with the Millers where he scored 19 League One goals in 45 appearances, he opted to remain in the third tier by signing for Wednesday.

Smith was just as prolific in his first year with the Owls. He found the back of the net 17 times in 39 League One appearances to earn his second promotion in two seasons, but Wednesday’s return to the Championship saw Smith’s game-time limited in 2023-24.

He scored just four times last season, and although he amassed 31 appearances in the league last season, 20 of those came off the bench.

It has been a similar story in terms of gametime during the 2024/25 campaign for Smith, starting just 13 of his 34 outings, but the 33-year-old has managed to double his goalscoring tally, showing his effectiveness when Rohl does give him a chance.

On top of his eight Championship goals, Smith has also set up a further four for teammates, proving that not only is age just a number, but he is a very useful target man who occupies defenders to give others the chance to finish chances.

Michael Smith needs to be offered new Sheffield Wednesday contract as soon as possible

Despite largely being used off the bench, Smith is still a very impactful player for Rohl and Wednesday.

In his last five appearances prior to Friday's defeat at Burnley, Smith has come off the bench three times to score - earning his side four points in the process as they make a move for the top six of the Championship.

If Smith is happy to continue being a bit-part player, then extending his contract seems a no-brainer for the Owls, with Capology estimating that the veteran striker is currently earning around £17,500 a week.

Retaining a player that can chip in with a few goals at Championship level could prove vital over the course of the season, with Smith’s selflessness to come off the bench more often than not another good quality in a player.

Smith is clearly settled in Yorkshire, having spent the last eight seasons in the county, and whilst the riches of Wrexham may come calling again in the summer, Sheffield Wednesday should look to continue a fruitful partnership between club and player.