Sheffield Wednesday: Quiet man Kieran lets his feet do the talking

On the pitch, he is Wednesday’s dynamic, midfield creator. It is where the Stalybridge-born player feels at ease.

Away from football, Lee is a laid-back, reserved individual who prefers the quiet life. He doesn’t go seeking the spotlight.

Indeed, it is very rare Lee conducts interviews. It is not that he deliberately avoids speaking to the media. Lee just chooses to let his feet do the talking.

Focusing on his own game has served Lee well so far this season. He has established himself as an indispensable member of Carlos Carvalhal’s side.

Thirty four of Lee’s 38 appearances have come as a starter. Nobody has played more than Lee during the 2015/16 campaign.

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Centre-back Tom Lees told The Star: “Kieran is fantastic. We have made a lot of additions but Kieran quietly goes about his business.

“He’s a really good guy and his performances have been very consistent this year.

“Kieran is just one of those players who fits into our team really well. He does a lot of work that goes unnoticed. He covers a lot of distance and is very important to the way we play.

“Kieran has got great awareness of what is around him and you can give him the ball in tight positions. Like a lot of players we have in the team, Kieran is really important and hopefully he can carry on playing the way he is doing.”

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There is no disputing that the 27-year-old, who came through Manchester United’s youth system, has matured as a footballer and is starting to fulfil his potential. His steady development prompted Wednesday to hand Lee a new two-year contract last summer.

The former Oldham Athletic full-back has learned how to impose his will better in matches, turning himself into a goal-scoring midfielder. Lee has already contributed six goals, equalling last year’s tally.

He gives extra energy to the middle of the park, dovetailing effectively with Barry Bannan and Sam Hutchinson, and should be entering the peak period of his career.

“Kieran is a super chilled person,” said stand-in captain Lees. “That’s the way he has always been since I met him here.

“Kieran takes everything in his stride. He goes under the radar a bit but we appreciate him a lot and know how good a player he is.”

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