Any outside chance Sheffield Wednesday had of reaching the top six disappeared on Saturday when they lost to Yorkshire rivals Leeds at Elland Road.

Whilst that's frustrating, the reality is that the Owls have been superb since Steve Bruce took over and the way they've performed in the past two months has brought optimism and belief back to Hillsborough.

Therefore, the focus for the boss will now switch to building a side that can be competitive for next season.

Everyone at the club will be aware of that, which means it's going to be a big few weeks for Kieran Lee.

The Sheffield Star revealed that the energetic midfielder played for a second time in a week for the U23s today and he is back training with the first-team after a 15-month lay-off.

With his contract up in the summer, Lee will know that he has to make an impact in those sessions and for the development side to convince Bruce he warrants a new deal.

Obviously, his fitness record is a major concern and a comprimise will have to be reached financially in order to make a deal realistic for the club.

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But, anyone who saw Lee star under Carlos Carvalhal will know that he is a player that can offer a lot to any Championship side at his best.

Capable technically, he covers the ground well and the prospect of Lee alongside Barry Bannan and Sam Hutchinson would give the team real balance and quality in midfield.

However, the nature of his injury means that he may not be the same player and that's what the manager will have to assess.

Bruce has admitted that Lee is unlikely to feature for the first-team but he should still be in a position to make a good judgement just from watching in training and for the 23s.

Now, it's down to the player though. He has to prove himself all over again to show that he deserves a chance with a Sheffield Wednesday side that could be a real force next season.

Thoughts? Let us know in the comments below.