Owls manager Carlos Carvalhal is keen to wake the 'sleeping giant' that is Sheffield Wednesday, according to The Star.

Carvalhal has belief in his Sheffield Wednesday team
Carvalhal has belief in his Sheffield Wednesday team

The Portuguese manager only joined the Championship side in the summer, but believes that the Yorkshire club are beginning to find their feet and a return to the glory days of the Premier League isn't too far away.

Sheffield Wednesday have been outside the Premier League for 15 years, but three successive wins in the Championship have given Carvalhal and his side renewed confidence.

Speaking to The Star, Carvahal said: “I’m very happy because we are in a very good way. The self confidence of not just the players but the club and fans is more high at the moment. We are waking up the giant and that is very important.”

The 49-year-old manager also claimed the Owls' win over Newcastle in the Capital One Cup has had a huge impact on the club, saying: “When we won at Newcastle, there wasn’t just an impact in England. It had an international impact. Everybody around the world follows English football and when we won at Newcastle, Sheffield Wednesday was mentioned all around the world.

"In my country, it had a big impact. I received a newspaper from a Portuguese friend. He showed me the back page of their sports newspaper and it was about us. It will be the same when we play Arsenal.”

Wednesday secured a 2-1 win away at Brentford last time out, but Carvalhal is refusing to get carried away ahead of this weekend's visit from Preston.

“This is a dangerous game,” he said. “When everyone expects one thing, sometimes people relax and there can be surprises.

“We are working with our players to put them on red alert for this game. Preston are a dangerous team and we must show the same team spirit we showed in the last couple of games.

“We are focusing the players and telling them to forget the past. The future is the most important.

“You can’t sleep in football because you can lose everything in one minute. Our players must give the maximum. We have a lot of work to do. We must work hard to keep winning.”

Sheffield Wednesday welcome 22nd placed Preston to Hillsbrough on Saturday, knowing that a victory would solidify their current top half status and narrow the gap between them and the play-off places.

Preston will be eager for a victory to pull themselves out of the relegation places after just one victory in nine games has left them in the danger zone.

Sheffield Wednesday fans...... Have you got confidence in Carvahal? Can he guide you to the Premier League? Let us know your thoughts and opinions in the comments below!