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This article is part of Football FanCast's Pundit View series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent quotes from journalists, pundits, players and managers...

Former West Ham striker Dean Ashton has given his verdict on Sheffield Wednesday’s appointment of Garry Monk.

What’s he said?

Life under the new manager couldn’t have got off to a better start as the Owls saw off local rivals Huddersfield 2-0 at the John Smith’s Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Both goals were headed efforts from strike pair Steven Fletcher and substitute Sam Winnall to hand Monk a happy three points in his opening game as Wednesday boss.

Ashton believes the appointment is a smart one and his hopeful about their prospects this season - speaking to Football League World, he said:

“I’ve always been quite a big Garry Monk fan.

“I think whenever he speaks in interviews he talks a lot of sense. He doesn’t try to beat around the bush and he’s very honest in his opinions and about his teams.

“I think he’s able to play good football like he did at Swansea but also use other styles to get a tune out of what he’s got like he did at Birmingham, so I think he’s become one of the hottest managers in the Championship and if any side lost their manager he would be near the top of their list.

“Hopefully, with the decent start they’ve made, he can help continue that.”

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Adaptability

That is the one key asset the 40-year-old brings to the table, and it’s one that can breed positive results in the current circumstances.

Joining a club in the middle of September means he isn’t able to strengthen the side to suit his tactical requirements.

So Monk is left with the cards he’s been dealt by Steve Bruce and then caretaker manager Lee Bullen.

But, as Ashton mentions, his ability to work miracles in that sense was proven at Birmingham where he had them competing in the top half of the table until the club was slapped with a nine-point deduction - as BirminghamLive describe so perfectly, Monk turned them into a side "vastly superior than the sum of its parts."

A 2-0 win is a perfect start; they just need to keep it going from here.