However the following week he made his Hillsborough debut as a substitute against Everton in front of over 33,000 and he scored within minutes of entering the field.
[citation needed] He became a firm favourite and an idol of the Wednesday supporters, scoring 149 goals in 358 appearances during his eleven years at the club.
He even managed to score and keep a clean sheet in the same match, (a 2–0 victory over Manchester City in January 1990) after he replaced an injured Kevin Pressman in goal.
In 1991, Hirst scored 32 goals as Wednesday were promoted back to the First Division at the first attempt, including a 4-goal haul against Hull City (a 5–1 win) on 1 September 1990.
In the same season Hirst played in the Sheffield Wednesday team that reached both domestic Finals – they lost both to Arsenal, but Hirst scored Wednesday's equaliser in the FA Cup Final at Wembley in a 1–1 draw before Arsenal won the replay 2–1.
After two more years at Hillsborough and the odd glimpses of form from Hirst, he was sold by manager David Pleat to Southampton after he had emerged fit once again returning to the Owls first team.
His exit from the Owls came on 17 October 1997, when Southampton manager Dave Jones paid a club record £2million for his services.
[4] Hirst also scored the only goal as his side beat Leeds United 1–0 at Elland Road.
[citation needed] He made his international debut in the 1–0 win over Australia, but was replaced at half-time.
[8] Hirst was often considered a rare breed of 'total striker'[9] and had pace, height, heading, strength, dribbling, creativity and being in the right place at the right time.
Although predominantly left-footed, he had an excellent right foot too and scored some spectacular goals from range with both feet.