Having been narrowly beaten in the Championship play-off final the year prior, Sheffield Wednesday were looking to go one better during the 2016/17 campaign.

Carlos Carvalhal’s men were sitting inside the top six by one point before the turn of the year, and they were well positioned to keep their promotion hopes alive.

Having been losing finalist the year before, Carvalhal was looking to further add to his side in the New Year to keep the Owls battling it out inside the play-off places.

Automatic promotion was still a distinct possibility, but the more realistic aim was the post-season lottery - as it had been the campaign prior.

And on December 27, 2016, a deal in principle was agreed with West Bromwich Albion for the temporary signing of one of their players.

Callum McManaman was signed on a six-month loan deal, effective January 1, 2017, tasked with helping the Owls maintain their play-off charge to make it into the top six come the end of the season.

And the signing was well received by the club’s supporters ahead of entering the business end of the Championship campaign.

Six days after signing the former FA Cup winner with Wigan Athletic made his debut for Carvalhal’s team.

Having not played all season he was thrust into action in the home clash with Wolverhampton Wanderers which ended goalless and on that occasion he started.

An FA Cup defeat occurred before his first win, finally, in his third match for the club.

McManaman would then be a bit-part player from the substitutes bench in a further ten matches for Sheffield Wednesday before starting his second game on the last day of the season.

The Owls would make it to the play-offs for a second successive season, but McManaman was not involved in those post-campaign fixtures.

In all, he made 12 appearances in all competitions for Carvalhal’s side, starting just twice in what was a largely forgettable loan spell, with no goals and only two assists to his name.

Despite the rapturous welcome he received it was a move that will not live long in the fans’ memory if they even remember it at all.