BRIAN Laws has outlined the attributes that new signing James O'Connor will bring to the Sheffield Wednesday midfield.
"He is a footballer with an excellent work rate, a great attitude and lots of energy," said the Wednesday boss of the 28-year-old from Burnley.
"James is a proven player at Championship level and he will bring a whole wealth of experience to what is a key area of the team.
"He is a player used to playing at a high tempo and there will be other qualities as well within the package and, as a whole, he ticks a lot of boxes for us.
"I am delighted to have secured his services and I know that there were a number of clubs waiting to pounce. But I've had my eye on him and was determined to get him to Sheffield Wednesday."
Dublin-born O'Connor has built a reputation as a hard-working and combative midfielder expected to add a competitive edge to the midfield. Laws says he will be ideal for the high-energy way he wants to see his side play next season.
O'Connor started his career in England with Stoke City and went on to play for West Brom as part of the Baggies team that won promotion to the Premier League in the 2003/04 season.
O'Connor, who has more than 400 appearances in a ten-year first-team career, officially finalises all the paperwork this week and then links up with his new teammates in the return to pre-season training.
Former Owls winger Matt Hamshaw has joined Notts County on a two-year deal. He was with relegated Mansfield last season.
Another former Owls frontman, David Graham, has joined Peter Jackson's Lincoln City on a six-month deal.
The striker has been a free agent since leaving Gillingham in January.
Former Sheffield FC striker Neil Harvey, aged 24, an international for Barbados, has joined Macclesfield from UniBond League Division One South champions Retford United.
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The full article contains 376 words and appears in Sheffield Star newspaper.