Sheffield Wednesday captain Tom Lees says the team have to improve if they are to challenge for promotion from the Championship next season.

After a disappointing start to the season, the Owls finished 12th in the Championship table, ten points outside the play-off places, after a brilliant revival in the second half of the campaign under new manager Steve Bruce.

Lees admitted that the team cannot afford another slow start next season, if they are to challenge for promotion and is hoping to achieve success under Bruce next term.

"We finished 12th after a very poor first half of the season and we cannot afford to do that again," said Lees, as quoted by the Sheffield Star.

"Standards have got to be higher next year. We know that we have to do it for an entire season not just a couple of months next year if we want to be successful.

"So, all in all, it is a big summer for the club in lots of ways. We will be looking forward to seeing what happens.

"He [Bruce] knows what it takes in this league. Since he has come in, he has been trying to get us on board with what he wants and I think we have bought into that."

Lees has been an important player for Sheffield Wednesday this season. The defender made 42 appearances for the Owls in the Championship, scoring two goals.

The Verdict:

This season can be described as a season of two halves for Sheffield Wednesday.

The Owls endured a frustrating start to the campaign under Jos Luhukay, but have been brilliant since Bruce took charge at Hillsborough in February.

Bruce will be looking to considerably strengthen his squad in the summer, as he looks to build a team that will challenge for promotion next season.

Lees is right, the team have got to make a better start to next season, but if they can do that, they have a real chance of challenging for promotion.