The Derby County midfielder’s Sheffield Wednesday loan spell expires this summer.
After a season of unexpected underachievement for Sheffield Wednesday, things are starting to look up again as the campaign reaches its climax.
The Owls – boosted by the returns of several first team stars, notably, their talismanic forward Fernando Forestieri, in recent weeks – have won five of their last seven matches to eliminate the threat of relegation, which at one stage was all too real.
Having secured their safety at Hull City last week, Wednesday boss Jos Luhukay has once again began to experiment with the squad he inherited from Carlos Carvalhal in January (and not out of necessity this time). Cup ‘keeper Cameron Dawson was brought in for Joe Wildsmith against Reading on Saturday – and will keep his place for the Owls’ final two fixtures, according to Luhukay – while young midfielder Connor Kirby became the fourth player to make his debut under the Dutchman.
And Kirby’s cameo could also prove significant for those other than him, having been made at the expense of more experienced rivals like Jacob Butterfield, who has only appeared in one of Sheffield Wednesday’s last eight matches – for which he had Barry Bannan’s injury to thank.
With another lesser-spotted midfielder, David Jones, chosen ahead of Butterfield among the substitutes against Reading, and Kirby expected to continue his first team education in the Owls’ remaining two fixtures, it’s possible that’s the last we’ll see of the Derby loanee in a blue and white (or white and gold) shirt.
Another reason – perhaps – for Wednesdayites to be cheerful.
Does Butterfield deserve on final chance to impress before going back to Derby?
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