Steve Bruce has done a great job so far at Sheffield Wednesday, but his task now is to plan for next season, through securing contract extensions and plotting transfer targets.

Entering the Easter weekend, Bruce had managed 14 games at the club, losing just two of those. He had managed a total of 24 points in those 14 games, which is play-off form.

The two losses were against the form teams in the division in Leeds and Villa, so he has certainly done a good job.

Play-offs will not happen this season, though, and Bruce should instead use the final games wisely to plan for next season, where Wednesday will be expected to challenge for the top six.

The Owls managed back-to-back play-off finishes under Portuguese manager Carlos Carvalhal, but had a couple of stagnant years since then.

This year was set to be one of those, with Jos Luhukay severely underperforming, despite a couple of good runs here and there. Bruce has shown signs that Wednesday will be on their way back next year, and  the Hillsborough crowd seems to like him.

He will have scouts attending games all over the country, trying to find the next stars for his Wednesday side, but renewing current deals have to be quite high up the priorities list too.

Keiren Westwood is one of the players Bruce should look to tie down - he has been one of his best players since taking the job.

[ad_pod ]

Jos Luhukay preferred youngster Cameron Dawson for the goalkeeper spot, but Westwood has been the number one at the club since Bruce took over, playing every game bar one since his inclusion against Preston in late December.

The Irish international has kept 11  clean sheets in his 19 games leading into this weekend, and he is a real authority at the back, becoming a leader in the Wednesday side.

He was Wednesday's star performer against Leeds, and although Bielsa's men did find a way through eventually, the score would've been a lot worse if it wasn't for Westwood.

Now age 34, Westwood still has a few years to offer at this level, and he should be top of Bruce's wishlist this summer, as he looks to tie down his best players.