Sheffield Wednesday: Owls striker Sam Winnall opens up on his long-term future

The Sheffield Wednesday striker headed to Pride Park on transfer deadline day at the end of August, joining the Rams on a season-long loan deal which saw Jacob Butterfield head in the opposite direction.

Winnall has flourished at Derby, hitting four goals in seven outings, including three in his past two matches.

When asked whether he would stay with the Championship club beyond the end of the 2017-18 season, Winnall told the Derby Telegraph: “Of course.

“I’m really enjoying my time here.

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“Everything has been brilliant and the club has been really good for me.

“They’ve helped me out in so many different ways - not just on the pitch but off the pitch as well.

“That’s credit to the football club - they’ve been brilliant with me and you never know what will happen.

“You just have to take every day as it comes and see what happens.”

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Wednesday snapped up Winnall in a controversial £500,000 deal from Barnsley last January. But Winnall struggled to command a regular first-team place, with Owls chief Carlos Carvalhal regularly rotating his forward line.

The 26-year-old, who has played 18 times for Wednesday, bagging four goals, was involved in a training ground bust-up with Fernando Forestieri in August. Winnall and Forestieri had to be separated by their teammates after a mistimed tackle by Forestieri.

Winnall says he is enjoying life at Derby.

He said: “The club have been fantastic - they’ve made the transition of moving from Sheffield Wednesday to Derby so easy - and I’ve bedded in so well straight away, because they are a great bunch of lads,” added the former Barnsley and Wolves front man.

“I am starting to feel a little bit at home here. I love going in to training every day and long may that continue.

“Since I joined, I don’t think it has once gone through my head that I’m just on loan.

“I want to help this team to finish as high as possible this season.

“Whether it extends beyond that, who knows? I don’t know - but at the end of the day, all I can do is focus on the now and at the moment, I’m a Derby County player.”

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