Sheffield Wednesday may need to sign another ten new players, believes Owls legend Chris Waddle.

Eight new additions have come in so far but after the squad was stripped apart last season during financial turmoil, they are still threadbare in a number of positions apart from at the back.

Barry Bannan might not feel like a ‘new’ signing after returning to the club just six months after leaving for Millwall, but Waddle is in no doubt about the influence he will have, including helping them recruit players, which Waddle thinks could run into double figures.

"Barry Bannan was very influential in the changing room,” Waddle told The Star via Freebets.com. “It is like having another coach on the pitch as a player. It will help new signings settle into the club. They need more players — definitely another five or six, maybe ten.

“They are going in the right direction. The new owners know what they are doing. The importance for them is to get out of League One as quick as possible — the longer you stay there, it gets harder and harder. But the club looks well organised, well drilled, there's a good relationship with ex-players.”

Despite the huge rebuilding job, expectations will be high and there will be pressure from some fans that Wednesday get off to flying start once the season gets underway.

“Everything's looking good — 22,000 season tickets gone,” Waddle added. “Everything's in place. But results decide the mood of the club and the supporters. If they go top three or four and keep up there, I think people will be thinking they can get out of the division and build in the Championship, maybe get the playoffs, and structure the club so when it does eventually go up to the Premier League, it is ready."