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The pain that will never go for Owls ace
ONLY now is the pain of relegation beginning to ease for James O'Connor.
The Owls midfield player has revealed that going down was the worst moment of his life - let alone his career - and he suffered all summer.
That has stiffened his intent to see the club bounce straight back into the Championship.
He has started the season with typical determination, playing a part in the league games and giving himself and the top-of-the table Owls another tonic with his two decisive goals in the 2-1 win against Notts County in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy.
"Last season hurt an awful lot of people," he reflects. "It was the worst moment of my life. I'll never be able to describe the pain I felt. I don't think I'll ever fully get over it.
"It's important we get back at the first attempt.
"The whole summer was ruined. If I could have come back that week and started, I would have done."
He says the main focus now is on winning promotion: "We have to carry on working as hard as we have been doing.There's a great spirit among the boys."
Wednesday can also reasonably aim for the JP Trophy Final. "There's a trip to Wembley in this competition. It would be nice to have a trip to Wembley and get promotion," he says. "Let's get Sunday done and dusted first."
The Owls head towards tomorrow's JP Trophy second-round draw and Sunday's televised match at Brentford (noon kick-off) in buoyant mood, says the midfield man who, on his 31st birthday, went close to the first hat-trick of his career against Notts County, with a shot in injury time.
"The keeper touched it; I was waiting for the corner," he said, amazed that a goal kick was given.
"I've scored two before - in a play-off semi-final for Stoke against Cardiff about 10 years ago - but not three.
"Mells (Ian Mellor) did brilliantly in putting me through."
O'Connor also dishes out praise to manager Alan Irvine and coaches Rob Kelly and Billy Barr for helping players and creating a "learning environment".
"The coaching staff are excellent. There's a lot of hard work gone into what we do, and they'll aways be there after training. I'm always asking one of them questions," he says.
"It's a great learning environment for the players. It's important you can listen and learn."
O'Connor, who has ambitions to be a coach or manager one day, has remained a valued member of the squad despite the influx of new players. He has started four of the seven games so far and gone on as a sub in the other three.
He says he did not feel an urge to prove himself again when he was recalled for the Trophy tie. "I'd like to think the manager knows what I can do," he says.
"There's a great atmosphere in the camp; if you're not in the team, you get your head down and work hard. All we can do is work hard and continue to play as we have been doing."
But he knows that repeating the sort of form seen in last week's 5-0 win at Hartlepool will not be a simple matter and that, like Newcastle in the Championship last season, Wednesday must be ruthless if they are to avoid becoming a coveted scalp for other teams.
"I compare us to Newcastle - people were going there intending to enjoy it. Newcastle were very hard to beat. We have to make sure we respect teams and work as hard as the opposition."
O'Connor starred against Notts County as Giles Coke was rested.
Coke has scored three goals this season and made a big impact in central midfield.
Irvine said: "Giles has been nursing a bit of an ankle injury for a few weeks. When we can ease off on him, we take the opportunity."
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Weather for Sheffield
Saturday 26 May 2012
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