The former Reading right back, who had a spell on loan at Sheffield United last season, is on trial with the Owls. He was released by Reading manager Steve Coppell in the summer.

"That he's found himself without a club, I find astonishing," Laws stressed.

The 26-year-old trained with Wednesday at Middlewood yesterday and will play for the reserves at Shrewsbury tonight with the Owls chief watching from the stands.

Laws is looking to bring in back-up for injured defenders Frank Simek and Richard Hinds and revealed he had made contact with Halls before signing Middlesbrough's Tony McMahon on a one-month loan last week.

"We've got the boy McMahon but that's temporary although there could be an extension," Laws added.

Halls played six times for United last season during March and May.

He started last season in Reading's Premier League squad but was let out on loan to Preston and then Crystal Palace before making his temporary move to Bramall Lane.

Islington born Halls was a trainee at Arsenal but made his league debut with Colchester United before signing for Stoke in December 2003.

Reading paid £250,000 for him in 2006 but he made only one start in the Premier League against Bolton almost exactly a year ago.

*Swansea City, who face the Owls on Saturday, were responsible for one of the Carling Cup second round upsets last night as they beat Hull 2-1 at the Liberty Stadium.

Jordi Gomez's extra-time penalty proved the winner after substitute Gorka Pintado turned the game on its head following his arrival as a 54th-minute substitute. He scored Swansea's equaliser after Dean Windass had put Hull ahead.

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