Sponsored by
Patient Heffernan in bid for Trophy tonic
FOOTBALL folk may not get too excited about the Johnstone's Paint Trophy.
But if you've won the final in front of a crowd of 60,000 at one of the game's greatest stadiums then it is a competition to be regarded with affection.
Owls striker Paul Heffernan was a winner with Doncaster Rovers in 2007 and would love to repeat the experience.
He scored one of the goals as Rovers beat Bristol Rovers 3-2 after extra time at the Millennium Stadium.
This season's tournament, which has its final at Wembley, could also offer him a boost tonight: if he plays against Notts County it will be a chance for him to step up his clam for a spot in Wednesday's League One side.
Take into account also the fact that County are the club where he made his name as a goalscorer, and for him the Owls' first-round tie is not an occasion to be sniffed at.
"In the first few rounds there aren't a lot of people there but the further you go, the more you build up a momentum," he said.
"When I was at Doncaster, for the Northern semi-final and final the Keepmoat Stadium was packed.
"It was a great atmosphere at the Millennium Stadium and a brilliant day for us and the fans.
"With Bristol not being far from Cardiff they took around 40,000, and we had 20,000."
Heffernan scored 38 goals for Notts County in 109 appearances, including 31 as a sub, and most of them came in League One.
It is that sort of marksmanship that made him an Owls target this summer but so far he has started only the Carling Cup ties against Bury and Scunthorpe and has yet to get off the mark, while his fellow strikers Clinton Morrison, Neil Mellor and Marcus Tudgay are up and running.
Hoping for a start tonight, he says: "I think that if I get a chance in the team, I can get goals.
"You've just got to keep trying to catch the manager's eye, and when you get a chance try to take it.
"You know you're going to get an opportunity at some stage. We all know it's going to be a long season with over 50 games; we've only played a few.
"We've got four strikers who are all capable of scoring goals. You have to be patient. You're itching to get a chance - but if the gaffer is picking two strikers that means two can't start."
County's squad includes two of Heffernan's former Doncaster team-mates, Graeme Lee and John Spicer.
The striker, now 28, was approaching his 18th birthday when the Magpies signed him from Irish club Newtown.
"I've got some good memories of when I was at Notts County," he says.
"They gave me my chance. I was there for five seasons and I managed to get a few goals for them." His best haul for a season was 21 - a feat, considering that the team were relegated that year.
His other moves were to Bristol City and then Doncaster before the Owls signed him on a free this summer.
Heffernan is likely to be among the possible changes that Alan Irvine is considering.
The Owls boss has shown a liking so far in the cups of using as much of his squad as is feasible.
This time he must also take into the account the restrictions imposed by the Johnstone's Paint Trophy rules.
A team must include at least six players who started the previous game, or at least six from 11 who have made the most appearances in league and cup games this season.
"I'm thinking about changes," said Irvine. "One or two are carrying little knocks; I'll think about that, and I'll see whether there's anywhere we could do with some fresh legs. The rules don't allow you to make lots and lots of changes anyway."
Irvine may well want to give a game to Clinton Morrison, who like Heffernan was on the bench at Hartlepool last Saturday.
Captain Darren Purse missed last week's match at Scunthorpe with a calf injury. Although that has virtually cleared up and he played in the 5-0 win at Hartlepool, it would be no surprise if Irvine takes no risks and perhaps calls up Richard Hinds again.
It would still be possible for the Owls chief to include six players from last Saturday's starting side if he recalled Hinds, Jon Otsemobor, James O'Connor or Tommy Miller, Heffernan and Morrison. But this of course is not the only possible permutation.
Miller perhaps needs games after coming back from a hamstring injury and making appearances as a sub at Scunthorpe and Hartlepool.
Team (possible): Weaver; Otsemobor, Hinds, Beevers, Spurr; Sedgwick, O'Connor or Miller, Potter or Coke, Teale; Morrison, Heffernan. (4-4-2).
Got a view? Leave a comment below.
Follow The Star on Twitter and Facebook:
For breaking news and sport follow The Star on Twitter at www.twitter.com/sheffieldstar and Facebook at www.facebook.com/sheffieldstar.
JOIN THE STAR READER PANEL: The Star is YOUR newspaper, so tell us what you think about it and what you want to see - CLICK HERE.
Don't miss our daily pull-outs - only in the The Star: Monday Star Sport, Tuesday Class Act; Wednesday Business; Thursday Grassroots; Friday Time Out; Saturday Retro. Subscribe to The Star - CLICK HERE
READ MORE
Subscribe to The Star or Green 'Un
Visit our Matchday Centre for free live coverage of every match
Football headlines. Football gossip. Blades news Owls news Reds news. Millers news. More rugby. More boxing. Sports columnists.
All sport categories
Watch Premiership highlights, international football, golf, tennis, darts and much more - click here
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Sheffield
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: East
