Sheffield Wednesday appear to be edging closer to securing a first return to the Premier League since 2000, and despite twice failing to gain promotion via the play-offs, the Owls will be confident that in 2018 they will be celebrating promotion from the Sky Bet Championship.

Carlos Carvalhal has turned Wednesday into one of the division’s most feared sides, and he has assembled a magnificent squad during his two years at Hillsborough, which many will expect him to add to this summer.

Areas of Carvalhal’s squad are already so strong, with Keiren Westwood, Tom Lees, Sam Hutchinson and Fernando Forestieri offering the Owls an incredible spine to their team. Added to that they have a strikeforce including Gary Hooper, Steven Fletcher and Jordan Rhodes, making it difficult to see where they might be able to improve this summer.

Lees is one half of an exceptional central defensive unit with Glenn Loovens, but Carvalhal is looking to bring another defender to Hillsborough this summer to compete with the outstanding duo.

There are also calls for Wednesday to add another central midfielder to their squad, but with Hutchinson, Kieran Lee and Barry Bannan all at Carvalhal’s disposal, they have ample quality in that area.

Perhaps the area Carvalhal should be strengthening this summer is left-back, where despite having plenty of options, it is seen as Wednesday’s weak link.

Adam Reach has performed exceptionally when at left-back, but his best position has proved to be a more attacking one, whilst Daniel Pudil and Morgan Fox have both struggled when the pressure was on Wednesday during the 2016/17 campaign, particularly the former who could not contain Huddersfield Town's Colin Quaner in the play-off semi-final.

Carvalhal is close to finding the right formula for promotion, and there is no doubt that Wednesday are improving under the Portuguese manager, but one area he must strengthen this summer is left-back – if he is serious about ending the Owls’ wait for a top-flight return.