JAMES O'Connor faces his old club Burnley tomorrow with his former boss tipping him to be a Hillsborough hit this season.
Clarets chief Owen Coyle has made it plain that he still has high regard for the midfielder who chose not to sign a new deal at Turf Moor and opted for Wednesday ahead of several other suitors.
Coyle said: "I like James; he is a terrific player and, equally, a terrific man. I've got a lot of time for him and still speak to him.
"At the time, we made an offer and I think he felt he wanted to try pastures new, so, after a week or so, when he couldn't commit, we decided to take the offer off the table.
"But it was very amicable, we still speak and get on very well, and he will be a huge success at Sheffield Wednesday, I have no doubt about it.
"I wish him nothing but the best, except against us."
O'Connor has already said that he is looking forward to facing his old club and expects a tough test for him and his new Owls teammates.
Burnley have made six summer signings, including £1 million striker Martin Paterson from Scunthorpe - who got both goals in the Iron's 2-1 win at Hillsborough last October - and £1m-plus ex-Owls loan winger Chris Eagles from Manchester United.
O'Connor is one of the Wednesday men who is certain of a starting role, but fellow new boy and midfielder Jimmy Smith, on loan from Chelsea, is not likely to start the game, after an ankle injury.
Lee Grant remains No 1 keeper.
Richard Hinds, who missed last season's run-in because of an ankle injury, will probably get the right-back nod with Frankie Simek still out. The rest of the back four is the familiar trio of Richard Wood, Mark Beevers and Tommy Spurr.
Steve Watson, fit after a slight back strain, could rival Sean McAllister for a centre-midfield spot alongside O'Connor.
Former Burnley player Brian Laws has options out wide and up front and, if last week's friendly against Wigan was any guide, the Owls manager will plump for Marcus Tudgay on the right side of midfield and chose from Jermaine Johnson and Etienne Esajas on the left.
Wade Small is not quite ready after a hamstring problem.
Francis Jeffers is fit but tomorrow's game comes a shade too early for him - which confirms the returning Akpo Sodje and on-form Deon Burton as favourites for the striker roles.
Laws said: "It's important we get a good start to the season; it's quite a while since we had one of those. We know what's required. We are confident of making a good start.
"I'm confident in the players we've got. There's no doubt about it, if we stay away from significant injuries we have a decent chance of a good season.
"We have a quality defence, we have added new players to our midfield, where Sean McAllister is also emerging, and we have goals in us."
Burnley could field the 4-2-3-1 system they used in a 2-1 home win against Inverness - a sixth consecutive pre-season win.
Eagles, an out-and-out winger in his Hillsborough loan stay of two seasons ago, made his Clarets debut as one of three players supporting lone striker Paterson.
Boss Coyle said: "Sheffield Wednesday is a massive club. There will be a big support there again, but we'll take our numbers.
"It's got the makings of a real game, and Sheffield Wednesday in the last couple of months of the season were one of the form clubs in the Championship, given they were fighting for their lives.
"They showed they can win games, and were difficult to beat, so we know we're in for a tough game."
Sheffield Wednesday: Preview for the season, including ins and outs and squad numbers. Don't miss Saturday's Green'Un newspaperWhat do you think? Post your comments below. READ MORE Football headlinesMore BladesMore OwlsMore SpireitesMore RoversMore RedsMore MillersMore Ice HockeyMore rugby leagueMore rugby unionMore boxingSports columnistsAll sport categoriesThe full article contains 706 words and appears in Sheffield Star newspaper.
