Sheffield Wednesday: What Darren Moore said about his new assistant manager, injuries and contract talks

‘He’s doing exactly what we’ve brought him to the club to do.

‘He wants to play games. He wants to improve’.

Refuses to be drawn on whether the Owls will try and make his spell in S6 permanent.

‘The team spirit in the group is good. They are connected with one and other, there’s a real camaraderie about them.

‘That’s been something that’s been built this season with the new personnel and the ones that have been here.’

On what’s clicked: ‘It’s just the volume of training. He’s been in for extra training and it’s worked for him.

‘He’s in a good place. Physically, he’s looking strong.’

‘He’s another one that’s making some wonderful progress. He’s probably in the final part of where he needs to be at before he joins the group.’

Moore hopeful he can join the main group next week.

Dunkley will play ‘some significant minutes’ in an in-house game next week. Could come back into contention for selection next weekend.

‘He’s looking good in training’.

Working alongside Jamie Smith. ‘Jamie is probably more pitch-based. Wayne will work more so in off-the-pitch tactics and dynamics.’

Says Jacobs is a Wednesdayite who comes from a family of Sheff Wed fans.

‘He’s probably got more of a senior role (at Sheffield Wednesday) now.

‘He knows me, he knows how I work. He’s more on board here now at the club.’

Confirms Jacobs has a part-time role at the club until the end of the season.

Part-time role, but ‘we’re forever in constant contact’.

‘I think it’ll come towards the end of the season. It’s not something that’s done overnight.

‘It can be a drawn-out process.

‘Right now, we’re all under contract so let’s just carry on. We have got the back end of the season to play’.

‘They are massive. You can tap into it and see where you were at as a player at the time.

‘Those kind of experiences (promotion pushes) as a player help to shape you as a manager.’

‘It can be a number of things.

‘They have had injury concerns, which has disrupted the momentum of the group. But also they have had patchy results.

‘I have no doubt they have learnt a lot this season.

‘I don’t doubt Michael’s managerial ability. He will get it right.’

‘This club has had an expectation from day one. The expectation has always been there, and rightly so.

‘We have given the fans something to cheer about and the city of Sheffield something to really hone in on.

‘We have just got to keep going and make sure we try and keep building’.

‘They are a good team, playing at home. They are in a bit of a false position in terms of the players they have got and how they go about their business.

‘You have to keep continuing to perform and keep that consistency.

‘It will be a real good game, another footballing match’.

‘They are all important. Liam Palmer is still very much a firm figure in our head, as is Lewis Gibson.

‘Liam is playing some good football. It’s lovely to have those options.’

‘You can never have enough attacking options.

‘It’s a wonderful boost for us to have those two (Gregory and Fizz) back.’

On Windass: ‘Josh is making wondeful, significant progress.

‘He’s making some wonderful strides. I don’t want to put a timescale on his head (for a return).’

‘George is fine. He was taken out of the game midweek for precautionary reasons, but he’s trained yesterday and today.

Lee Gregory and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru have also returned to training. Both are in contention for selection against Lincoln.

Darren Moore is next up at 2pm.

The current record is 17 and BPF currently has 12, despite missing several games through international duty.

‘It’s achievable.

‘I feel like I’ve improved massively.’

‘It’s really simple. We have got to go game by game and this is the next battle we have got to overcome, get the three points and move onto the next one.

On momentum: ‘It’s massive. Keeping consistent and keeping that rhythm is really important.

‘You keep an eye on it (the table) here and there. It’s really boring but we focus on what we can control.

‘You will see it unfold over the next six or eight weeks.’

Says he’s in constant contact with Burnley and is getting what he wants out of his loan.

‘We’re doing what the aim of this season was: game-time, full season at a big club.’

‘Football is so strange. I have got a good couple of years left at Burnley.

‘What I’m focusing on now is finishing the season. What will be will be. That’s up to Burnley. I’m focusing on right now and that’s all you can do in this game. We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it’.

Confirms he’s not yet spoken with Burnley.