Sheffield Wednesday: Barry Bannan heaps praise on fellow Owls midfielder

Wednesday star Barry Bannan is enjoying his blossoming partnership with Joey Pelupessy in the midfield engine room.
Joey Pelupessy has adapted to life at Hillsborough after a slow start to his Owls careerJoey Pelupessy has adapted to life at Hillsborough after a slow start to his Owls career
Joey Pelupessy has adapted to life at Hillsborough after a slow start to his Owls career

The pair have played together on seven occasions over the last two months, helping the Owls win five of their last eight matches to stave off any lingering relegation fears.

Pelupessy, a £500,000 capture from Dutch club Heracles Almelo, endured a tough start to his Wednesday career. He joined a side in mid-January low on numbers due to a crippling injury list and short on confidence after a dismal run of form.

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But Pelupessy’s displays have markedly improved in central midfield and so have the Owls’ results, with the Championship club lying in 16th position with one fixture left to play after Saturday’s draw at title-winners Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Bannan said: “He’s a very good player and when you get two good players coming together it makes it a lot easier.

“Even though we don’t understand each other - football language is the same language. It has been good to come in and play with Joe. I’m enjoying it.”

With fans favourites Kieran Lee and Sam Hutchinson sidelined by injury, Pelupessy had big boots to fill.

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But he has dovetailed effectively with Scotland international Bannan in the middle of the park. Pelupessy gets stuck in and keeps things ticking over, giving Bannan the licence to get on the ball and pull the strings with his diverse passing range.

“Sometimes when I have played with Kieran Lee I have been more defensive than normal, because Kieran is a more attacking player and Sam Hutchinson is a bit similar to Joey in the way they play and that allows me to get forward and express myself a bit more and I enjoy that,” conceded Bannan.