WITH his 37th birthday on the horizon this week, Steve Howard feared his disastrous second spell at Hartlepool United was going to be a dreadful way to end his career.

Now, rejuvenated and revitalised by a loan switch to Sheffield Wednesday, the experienced centre-forward is ready to keep playing for a further season – and possibly beyond.

But Howard, who ended the season on a high on Saturday by ending his loan from Pools by firing in his first goal against Middlesbrough to help Wednesday stave off relegation to League One, is unclear where he will be.

With uncertainty hanging around Victoria Park these days, Howard still has a further year remaining on the contract he signed last summer. Things there, however, did not go to plan for the much-travelled forward, who was happy to have a new burst of life in the division above when he headed for South Yorkshire in March.

“It's been a very frustrating season and I came here to try to put a smile on my face again and I have done that,” said Howard. “Hartlepool was one of those things, I had a chat and tried to fall in love with football again by coming here and that's what I have done.

“I went back to Hartlepool last summer, I wanted to go back to the North-East because my kids are up there, but I probably made the decision a bit too soon. As it has turned out with the circumstances up there, it just didn't turn out to be the right time for me.”

After a season in the North-East which has left him and Hartlepool's fans and coaching staff frustrated by a failure to adapt to his style of play, Howard reminded the higher league of his quality on Saturday.

His performance – capped by a sweetly struck left foot strike beyond Middlesbrough's Jason Steele before Leroy Lita added a second – led to Owls boss Dave Jones hailing his old war-horse striker.

Jones stated: “When we brought him here, a lot of people said he hasn't got the legs. He has never had the legs! He certainly had good legs when he was in that position to score and he has been a delight to work with.”

It is highly unlikely Howard will now head back to Hartlepool for next season in League Two, although he will have to discuss things with Pools chairman Ken Hodcroft and chief executive Russ Green first.

“I didn't want to talk about the summer until the job was done and then I wanted to take things from there,” said Durham-born Howard. “I have got a few meetings planned over the next few weeks so we will see.

“I feel as fit as I have ever been. I'm 36 but I feel sharp, good and my fitness levels are good. I have a lot of confidence of playing here. I just have to wait and see now what next season brings.

“Dave Jones told me to come here and enjoy my football. I just wanted to play football with a smile on my face again and I have done that, scoring on the final day was a nice way to finish a frustrating season.”