Sheffield Wednesday forward Fernando Forestieiri is reportedly on his way back to fitness, having missed the last eight games due to injury.

The 29-year-old has been absent since the 30th of November after picking up a knee injury against Charlton Athletic.

Forestieri has spent much of the season unavailable for the Owls, having served a six-match ban for a racism charge earlier in the campaign, but is closing in on a return.

In all, the Wednesday man has made nine appearances this season–scoring once and providing one assist–and with his contract set to expire at the end of the 2019/20 campaign, there are real question marks over where his future lies.

This term has hardly been a  for the forward but he could still have a part to play at Hillsborough.

Ahead of his 30th birthday next week, here are three reasons why the struggling Wednesday man may still have a future at the club.

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Garry Monk's lack of forward options. 

Outside top scorer Steven Fletcher, it is fair to say that Monk's striking options have been disappointing this season.

Atdhe Nuhiu, Sam Winnall, and Jordan Rhodes have scored just six goals in a combined 33 league appearances this season–a number that is significantly boosted by Rhodes' first-half hat-trick against Nottingham Forest.

The Owls need a goalscorer that can consistently back up Fletcher because at the moment, almost all of the responsibility falls on his shoulders.

If Forestieri can find the net more frequently over the next few weeks and months, he may be able to prove he can do that job.

He provides a unique skill set.

Forestieri provides a different set of skills to the majority of players in the Wednesday squad, particularly the forward options.

Monk's strikers are all big, physical forwards, that are most comfortable in the six-yard box or with their back to goal.

The 29-year-old is from a different mold–a tricky, skillful player with lots of vision and the ability to create something out of nothing.

If he can get back to form, he can provide Wednesday with things that no one else in the squad can.

His previous record.

Forestieiri's previous record indicates just how dangerous a player he can be and just what he may be able to do for Wednesday.

In his first two seasons at the club, the Italian scored 27 goals and provided 14 assists, helping them go on play-off runs in both campaigns.

If the 29-year-old can recapture that sort of form, you feel he will surely have a place at Hillsborough.