Last Chance Jeffers

Francis Jeffers’ career has been spiralling downhill ever since it began. The once prodigious £9 million man finds himself battling constant fitness issues to make the bench for Sheffield Wednesday. Perhaps now it is last chance to save a career that promised so much potential.
Jeffers’ has never reached his ‘fox in the box’ status after bursting onto the scene with his boyhood club Everton. Scoring an impressive 18 goals in 49 appearances over a three-year spell saw Arsene Wenger take a keen interest in him and he was subsequently sold.
At Arsenal, he was limited to 22 appearances whilst scoring a mere four goals. He later had infamous spells with Charlton Athletic, Rangers, Blackburn Rovers, and Ipswich Town before settling down with the Owls.
He joined Sheffield Wednesday for £700,000 last summer and in that time he has only played 12 games and scoring two goals as numerous injuries has hampered him making any real contribution.
Jeffers was brought to replace fans favourite Steve MacLean as he moved on to Cardiff City before moving south to join Plymouth Argyle.
The current number 9 has been submitted too much criticism resulting from his bad form and lack of goals. Wednesday fans believing Jeffers lacks commitment and has no urge to regain a starting place.
His return to action this season resulted in a 25-minute cameo substitute appearance in a 6-0 defeat to Reading, hardly making any significant impact before making a ten-minute appearance against former club Ipswich Town.
For the England under 21’s side, he scored 13 goals in 16 games, equalling Alan Shearer’s record, making him hugely popular in the England scene. Later making his one and only appearance for England against Australia where he scored the only goal in the 3-1 defeat. A night fondly remembered for Sven Goran Eriksson making 11 changes at half time, and the introduction of a certain Wayne Rooney’s international career.
He never had a chance again as Wenger lost faith in his ability, he was quickly ushered out, and this damaged his reputation and more importantly his confidence.
Injury has played a huge role in his mentality and with a run of successive games, his confidence may build up and the Wednesday fans may see some glimpses of that ‘fox in the box’ potential.
His approach play is still there and you cannot lose the talent to score goals overnight therefore, he must have something. He can score goals and can make a name for himself in the Championship but he needs to be mentality and physically in a good shape to be a success.
Brian Laws has reinstated his frustration that Jeffers is not match fit and the fact that he will not be for a while. Surely, it is up to Jeffers to make sure his career does not look a big embarrassment and be remembered as an expensive flop.