As Sheffield Wednesday look set to finish in the play-off places for the second consecutive season, it is a good time to reflect on two extremely strong transfer windows for the South Yorkshire giants.

One of the key reasons behind Sheffield Wednesday's success over the past two seasons has been the sheer quality of their recruitment.

The ambition of Carlos Carvalhal which has been financially supported by an equally ambitious board, has provided Sheffield Wednesday with the platform to build on their success from last season.

As Sheffield Wednesday's squad has increased in quality it has seen some players who may in previous seasons have had a role to play for the South Yorkshire club, have to leave in search of first-team football.

The flurry of transfer activity over the past two seasons and the number of incomings and outgoings, meant that there was guaranteed to be some players who would thrive in an environment, where they are given the opportunity to feature regularly in the first team.

FLW writer Elliott Wheat-Bowen looks at TWO players who have thrived after leaving Sheffield Wednesday...

 

Caolan Lavery

After joining Sheffield Wednesday from Ipswich Town, the Northern Irish striker was tipped to be a bright prospect for the South Yorkshire side.

However, Caolan Lavery's time at Sheffield Wednesday was disrupted by loan moves as he spent short stints at a number of clubs including Southend, Plymouth Argyle, Chesterfield and Portsmouth.

Controversially, in the latter stages of the summer transfer window, the 24-year-old striker made a permanent move to intra-city rivals Sheffield United.

Since dropping down a division, despite not featuring as much as Lavery would have been expecting to, he has impressed in Chris Wilder's side.

Alongside a vastly experienced striker in Billy Sharp, Lavery has slotted into the system well as he has scored three times and provided five assists despite being used sparingly by Chris Wilder.

Despite the lack of first-team starts, Lavery has thrived since leaving Sheffield Wednesday as this has been the 24-year-old striker's most effective season to date.

Jacques Maghoma

Having emerged from Tottenham Hotspur's academy, Jacques Maghoma was viewed as an extremely talented prospect, however, he was unable to breakthrough into the Premier League side's first team set-up.

After the disappointment at Tottenham, Maghoma joined Burton Albion and thoroughly impressed during his four years at the club.

Maghoma's performances attracted the attention of Sheffield Wednesday who swooped for the Democratic Republic of Congo international, and brought him to Hillsborough on a free transfer.

The industrious winger made over sixty appearances for Sheffield Wednesday.

However, like at Burton Albion, he was allowed to leave on a free transfer to join Birmingham City.

Since joining Championship rival's Birmingham City, Maghoma has re-found his form as he was one of the stand-out performers in the victory over Leeds United and Rotherham United earlier on in the season.

Many would've expected Jacques Maghoma to drop down to League One after leaving Sheffield Wednesday, instead, the 29-year-old winger has thrived for Birmingham City.