Sleeping giants Sheffield Wednesday have got their season off to a solid start following a victory over promotion rivals Aston Villa, and a 0-0 draw with other promotion hopefuls Norwich City.

The Owls suffered heartbreak last season as they slumped to a 1-0 defeat against Hull City in the Play-Off final with Mohamed Diame scoring the winner.

The heartbreak of this defeat has simply acted as motivation to go one step better this season and achieve promotion back to the top flight of English football.

Manager Carlos Carvalhal has been busy over the summer and has sprinkled quality over his squad with some key additions inlcuding the likes of Scottish international Steven Fletcher and Swiss international Almen Abdi.

The Owls have also today landed the signing of another key player in the form of David Jones, and this article takes a look at how his arrival could shape how the midfield will line up in their next game.....

 

David Jones - CM

31-year-old David Jones would get himself a starting berth in a holding midfield role in my Sheffield Wednesday midfield, Jones brings bags and bags of experience into the team and would be the perfect choice for a deeper lying midfielder.

Jones has good defensive awareness and has the maturity and the discipline to hold his position and not venture too far forward, the 31-year-old has bite in the tackle and is very accomplished at taking on a role of man marking a member of the opposing team.

However, Jones is also a very technical footballer and when on the ball he has a great range of passing and excellent vision which I'm sure will endear him to the Sheffield Wednesday faithful.

Jones has played close to 350 senior games and has represented the likes of Burnley, Derby County, Wigan Athletic and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Almen Abdi - CM

Jones' midfield partner would be Swiss international Almen Abdi and despite them both being deployed in a 'CM' role Abdi would be playing further up the pitch, in a more of an advanced playmaker role as someone who looks to get possession of the football and dictate the tempo and flow of the game.

The 29-year-old is a goal-scoring midfielder who has a knack of arriving in the penalty area at the right time which is how he scores the majority of his goals, he is a player who enjoys being in possession of the ball and is always looking to influence the game.

Last season Abdi was plying his trade in the Premier League for Watford where he was a regular, making 38 appearances scoring only the 1 goal.

Ross Wallace - RW

Wallace enjoyed a good season with The Owls last season and was a key part in Sheffield Wednesday reaching the play-off final, he made 42 appearances in all competitions scoring 4 goals in the process.

Wallace would be given a starting role in my Sheffield Wednesday midfield on the right wing, although Wallace is a naturally left sided player he is at his most dangerous when cutting inside from the wide areas and when cutting inside onto his favoured left foot, it gives him the opportunity to unleash one of his rocket strikes that every Wednesday fans knows he has in the locker.

Fernando Forestieri - CAM

Ignoring the latest controversy and speaking purely on football terms there is no doubting that Forestieri is the catalyst in this Sheffield Wednesday team, when he plays well, the team plays well.

The former Italian under-21 international enjoyed a fantastic season last time out where he played 36 times and scored an impressive 15 goals, but Forestieri brings so much more to the team than just his outlay of goals.

The 26-year-old has excellent technical ability and is the main link between the strikers and the midfield when he plays in his favoured CAM role, he enjoys getting possession of the ball and strikes fear into the opposition defenders with his love of running with the ball.

If Sheffield Wednesday are to achieve their goals this season it is clear that they will need this man on top of his game.

Barry Bannan - LW

Despite Barry Bannan losing his central midfield role to Almen Abdi in my preferred Sheffield Wednesday midfielder I still consider him too talented a player to leave on the bench, and would therefore fit him into my midfield by playing him wide left but with a license to roam.

Bannan would be allowed the freedom to float off the wings and pick up dangerous positions in behind the striker where he arguably at his most effective.

The Scottish international impressed last season for The Owls in a campaign where he made 41 appearances, scoring 3 goals and quickly becoming a fans favourite at Hillsborough in the process.