Don't roll your eyes.. Sheffield Wednesday duo can be 'like new signings' for Darren Moore

But the fact is that the safe return of an influential Sheffield Wednesday pair yet to play a minute under Darren Moore can be ‘like new signings’ for the Owls heading into their return to League One.

Dominic Iorfa and Massimo Luongo have played only 21 minutes between them this year, with neither man having featured since the start of February.

Both were big performers for Wednesday at various stages in the Championship, with Iorfa taking the club’s player of the season award for the 2019/20 season.

The powerful defender injured his achilles in defeat against Barnsley back in December, while Luongo has struggled with a series of injuries surfacing from a nasty knee injury over a year ago.

Neither man had the benefit of an extended summer break last summer due to the nature of football’s response to the coronavirus crisis. But with Wednesday in the midst of a seven-week break before a return for preseason at the end of the month, the hope is that both will be back to play some part.

It has been widely accepted that Wednesday lacked the athleticism and power both players provide.

The Owls looked shaky in defence throughout a torrid season and sorely missed Iorfa’s recovery attributes. In midfield, Luongo’s ability to get around the pitch was there for all to see.

Last month Iorfa posted a video on social media that offered a glimpse of his progress, while Luongo, an Australian international, is understood to have been close to a return to full training towards the end of last season.

Owls boss Darren Moore has already spoken about the need for reinforcements in the squad ahead of the season curtain-raiser on August 7, but with the transfer window yet to open, with player contracts across the country yet to expire and with off-field issues yet to be ironed out at the club, the wheels of motion are yet to start turning.

But work is going on behind the scenes and The Star understands that feelers have already been put out both by the club and by player representatives towards the Owls’ rebuild.

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