Aston Villa midfielder Conor Hourihane has tweeted his former Barnsley teammate, Sam Winnall, ahead of the latter’s return to Oakwell with Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday.

Winnall made the move across South Yorkshire during the January transfer window, opting to help Wednesday in their promotion push rather than remain with Barnsley.

The Wednesday striker was one of many to congratulate Hourihane following his international debut for the Republic of Ireland, tweeting: “Congrats lad! Fully deserved and hopefully first of many.”

Hourihane was quick to reply: “Cheers lad. Hope they’re nice to you at the weekend.”

Hourihane, who joined Villa before the January transfer deadline, quickly followed Winnall out of Oakwell, but the Irish midfielder suffered disappointment when he faced his former club, losing 3-1 to Barnsley in February.

Winnall will be hoping for better against the Tykes this weekend, with Wednesday still in the hunt for promotion from the Sky Bet Championship.

Carlos Carvalhal’s side have failed to record a victory in their last three league fixtures, and are now just one-point ahead of seventh-placed Fulham.

Do you expect Winnall to receive a hostile reception on Saturday? Let us know in the comments!