Getting Wednesday promoted would be biggest achievement of my career, says Barry Bannan

Barry Bannan believes helping Sheffield Wednesday into the Premier League would be the greatest achievement in his footballing career.
By The Newsroom
Published 26th May 2016, 17:55 BST
Updated 26th May 2016, 17:58 BST
Barry Bannan and Carlos CarvalhalBarry Bannan and Carlos Carvalhal
Barry Bannan and Carlos Carvalhal

The 26-year-old midfielder will return to Wembley for a Sky Bet Championship play-off final against Hull six years after featuring in Blackpool's victory over Cardiff in 2010.

The Scotland international was only on the pitch for the final two minutes that day and although he acknowledges it was a special moment in his career, sealing top-flight football with the Owls will eclipse his former team's success.

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Bannan said: "It will be the highest achievement, no doubt about it. I've felt like a big part of this club since I've walked through the door and to help them to the best league in the world, I don't think anything can beat it.

"Obviously, it was still an unbelievable moment in my career. I was on loan at Blackpool at the time which makes it a little bit different as well. This time I'm here and going to be here for the next couple of years so it's a big, big game for me on Saturday.

"Everyone is excited. They just want the game to come around. It's a pain having to wait for it to come around - everyone just wants to play it tomorrow."

The ex-Aston Villa star is hoping Wednesday can secure promotion to the Premier League for the first time in 16 years and also vindicate his decision to drop down into English football's second tier at the start of the season.

Barry BannanBarry Bannan
Barry Bannan
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"Every player wants to be playing in the best league in the world and that's the Premier League.

"To come here I took a step back and said it was a big season for me. Now I'm one game away from being back to where I want to be.

"Hull will go rightly in as favourites because they finished above us in the league but we know what we've got in the changing room and what we're capable of.

"At the end of the day, we've got a 50 per cent chance of winning, the same as Hull. If we do what we know we can do, then hopefully a result will be ours.

"I think that there is only one way for this club and it's up, so hopefully we can start by getting into the Premier League on Saturday."